Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant is a casual Ethiopian restaurant and bar at 2084 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, a few blocks north of Central Park. It draws diners with traditional stews, sautéed meats, and a strong vegetarian lineup, all eaten by hand with injera. Guests rate it 4.6 stars.
The menu covers the core of Ethiopian home cooking. Expect beef, lamb, chicken, and fish dishes such as tibs, which are cubes of meat sautéed with onion, peppers, and spiced butter. Doro wat is chicken slow-simmered in berbere chili sauce with a hard-boiled egg. Plant-based diners can order a combination platter of lentils, split peas, collards, cabbage, and shiro (a chickpea purée), which suits fasting traditions in Ethiopian Orthodox cooking. Food arrives on a wide platter lined with spongy, slightly sour injera. You tear off pieces to scoop each portion. The room is unpretentious, and the bar adds beer and wine to the meal.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday afternoons and early evenings are the quietest times to visit. Friday and Saturday nights fill up quickly, so call ahead before bringing a group. Combination platters work best for sharing, and first-timers should ask about spice levels. Hours can change, so confirm them by phone before you go. To get there, take the B or C train to Cathedral Parkway–110th Street, or the 2 or 3 train to Central Park North–110th Street. Afterward, walk south to Frederick Douglass Circle and the Harlem Meer at the northern edge of Central Park.
