Dallas-Fort Worth has a Habesha community — the community of Eritrean and Ethiopian people — and there are several places where you can find authentic Eritrean cuisine.
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Dallas-Fort Worth has a Habesha community — the community of Eritrean and Ethiopian people — and there are several places where you can find authentic Eritrean cuisine.
Eritrea is a country located in northeast Africa, bordered by Ethiopia and the Red Sea. It was once an Italian colony, so you’ll find some influence from Italian cuisine in its dishes.
The annual Festival Eritrea will be held in Dallas this year, from July 31 to August 2, and it will bring together members of that community from across the country.
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Here are some places in D-FW that serve Eritrean food, listed in alphabetical order:
Banna Restaurant and Bar
This restaurant serves both Ethiopian and Eritrean specialties, with several vegetarian options. Dishes include zigni, Eritrea’s signature dish, featuring slow-cooked meat in a spicy tomato-based sauce; gomen besiga, with collard greens and meat; and fish goulash, fish cooked in a spiced sauce.
Banna Restaurant and Bar is located at 9560 Skillman St., #120, Dallas. Banna Restaurant.
Dallul East African Cuisine
This restaurant in Far North Dallas offers dishes from Ethiopia and Eritrea, such as solsi, a spicy, tangy tomato sauce; misir wot, a spiced lentil stew; or fitfit, beef in a spiced butter sauce.
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Dallul East African Cuisine is located at 13021 Coit Road, #98, Dallas. dallulrestaurantandbar.com.
Loza Lounge
This place describes itself as a restaurant with a luxurious setting where you can enjoy dishes from Ethiopia and Eritrea. It serves dishes such as quanta firfir, featuring dried beef in a tomato sauce; Awaze Tibs, featuring cubed or sliced beef or lamb in a sauce; and melas sinbir, a dish made with beef tongue and tripe.
Loza Lounge is located at 4460 W. Walnut St., Suite 216, Garland. lozadallas.com.
Rahwa Bar and Restaurant
It is perhaps the region’s premier destination for Eritrean cuisine. It serves dishes such as zilzil, a spiced beef dish; dinish with siga, cubed beef and potatoes in a spiced stew; or dorho, also known as tsebni dorho, a spicy chicken stew.
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Rahwa Bar and Restaurant is located at 9220 Skillman St., Suite 124, Dallas. rahwadallas.com.
Yenat Guada Ethiopian Cuisine
Although this restaurant specializes in Ethiopian dishes, it also serves some dishes shared with neighboring Eritrea. They serve doro wot, with chicken and eggs in a spiced sauce; bozena shiro, beef simmered in a chickpea sauce; or fish dulet, tuna seasoned with a blend of spices, onions, jalapeños and oil.
Yenat Guada Ethiopian Cuisine is located at 7015 Greenville Ave., Suite 300, Dallas. yenatguada.com.