After making my way through
Los Angeles traffic, with my little box of mini cakes from
Kiki Bakery in hand, I met up with my friend E(L) at Messob Ethiopian Restaurant in the heart of LA's Little Ethiopia neighborhood.
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How much do I love that LA has a Little Ethiopia?
The inside decor was pretty nice with the straw hut and tables.
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I forgot to charge my camera so photos were taken quickly and sparingly. We ordered a
tej (Ethiopian honey wine) for $4.50. Tastes like what it sounds - a honey-sweetened wine.
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We ordered a veggie and meat combo.
The
injera (Ethiopian bread from fermented teff flour) is key to my enjoyment of Ethiopian food. At Messob, the
injera wasn't too sour and was lightly spongy.
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Ethiopian cuisine is eaten with the hands. Tear a strip of
injera and wrap it around various veggies and stews.
The $14.99 vegetarian combo included
yatakilt alitcha (Ethiopian steamed vegetables with onions, garlic, and ginger),
yemiser wot (Ethiopian split lentils in red pepper sauce and spices), collard greens steamed and seasoned with garlic and chilies, pumpkin, salad, tomato
fit-fit (Ethiopian shredded and spiced
injera).
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The $13.99 three-meat combo included
doro wot (Ethiopian chicken stewed in pepper sauce with spices),
siga wot (Ethiopian beef braised in red pepper sauce with assorted spices), and
yebeg siga alitcha (Ethiopian lamb stew with garlic, ginger, and spices). I think the
wots could have been a little bolder, more spices, but overall were very good.
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The baklava came free with the vegetarian combo.
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If you've never had Ethiopian food before, do try.
Messob Ethiopian Restaurant
1041 S. Fairfax Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
323-938-8827
10% off Monday to Thursday with
website coupon
Hmm,once I get over the fear of the unknown, I agree that this looks like it could be quite delicious.
ReplyDeleteThis looks quite interesting! I never knew LA had a little Ethiopia. Did know about Koreantown, Little Tokyo, and Thai (?) but not Little Ethiopia!
ReplyDeleteAnd do I see an Obama poster in a storefront two doors away? Can't help but notice.
I hate it when I forget to take out my battery to charge on my camera, as usually the battery life is so long, I don't charge it very often. Thanks to your post one my of cameras goes off to the charger now :).
Mmm. It's been ages since I've had Ethiopian. I love injera, too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I took my good friend there a couple years ago because she'd never had Ethiopian food. (I'd only had it once in New York and loved it.) It was a great meal.
ReplyDeleteDavid,
ReplyDeleteIf you like Indian food, I think you'd like this.
ETE,
There are so many ethnic neighborhoods in LA. I love it. Yeah, the Change poster is from a picture I took on a later visit to Little Ethiopia since I was out of batteries the first time.
Did I post about a backup batter? I can't remember?
Weezer Monkey,
We'll have to go sometime. HC and I are planning to hit up Meals by Genet at some point.
Pulled Porker,
I really enjoyed my meal here, but want to try some other restaurants along the street for comparison.