Vegan
Take-out
African, Ethiopian
Vegan and mostly gluten free Ethiopian cuisine restaurant, opened in early-2015. The injera is gluten free. Offers one combo platter in 3 portion sizes. Black owned. Reported closed October 2023.
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2987 Sacramento St, Berkeley, California, USA, 94702
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Last update on 03 Oct 2023 by Geeokonkwo
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46 Reviews
First Review by MTrofin
stprevic
Points +136
Healthy and Delicious - Edit
I’m so glad I finally had the chance to try this wonderful restaurant. I ordered a medium “main dish” to go, along with a flaxseed smoothie. The owner greeted me upon arrival and was very kind and welcoming. If I didn’t order to-go I would have enjoyed visiting with her longer! The food was delicious, fresh, and not too heavy. The injera was fresh and, to my delight, actually made of teff rather than wheat flour. I’m excited to try more things on the menu!
Read moreGuest
ynwa
Points +2059
Full vegan menu and very authentic - Edit
Vegan combo dish for four was delicious. It had so many options from mushrooms to eggplant, potato salad to red lentil and all nicely complimented with fresh greens.
Read morePros: Vegan menu, Very authentic , Great service
Guest
JoelPeterson
Points +21
Yummy and hearty - Edit
Great Ethiopian food. The millet flatbread was maybe wild grain, it was dark and tasted really good. The lentil and greens and potato dishes were great, as was the Ethiopian coffee and Ethiopian tea. The owner was friendly. The place is simple but bright and clean. All vegan.
Read morePros: Great flavor, Tasted fresh and wholesome , Friendly owner
JoelPeterson
Meant to say whole grain
Read moreGuest
Vegan4♡
Points +68
Happy, healthy and delicious. - Edit
Small, cozy three tables with four chairs each. Very enjoyable pleasant and gracious host.
Read morePros: Gluten free injera. Delicious fermented sourdough.
Cons: Delicious, healthy and happy.
Guest
Gopala108
Points +3299
Awesome fully vegan Ethiopian in Berkeley! - Edit
The basic menu at Kaffa is the main dish that includes four side dishes-
Read moreMedium spicy red lentils
Yellow split peas
Gommen kale
Mixed veggies (cabbage, carrot, & potatoes)
all side dishes are served with plenty of gluten-free Teff injera Ethiopian bread
The main dish comes in three sizes-
large plate- $13
medium plate- $11
small plate- $9
I went with the large plate as I live a pretty active lifestyle & have a hearty appetite. I found the large plate to be the perfect portion size for me yet if you have a smaller appetite you can get the medium or small plates which is great that they offer that here.
The food was nourishing & healthy. The Gommen kale was an interesting Ethiopian take instead of typical collard greens that are served at Ethiopian restaurants. I found the Teff injera bread to be more whole grain & substantial than at other Ethiopian restaurants.
The owner was personable & kind. There are only three tables here so it feels like you are eating in the owner's home instead of at a restaurant.
Everything here is vegan which is great. The gentleman next to me was having his Ethiopian coffee with some soy creamer so even the "creamer" is vegan!
Besides the main dishes they also offered Sambusa- lentil or potato lightly fried pastries that looked interesting. There was also Ethiopian hummus & an option to substitute one of the side dishes on the main dish for a mushroom stew for $2.
There are several different beverages offered here including:
a unique Telba (Flaxseed smoothie), Yerba Mate, coconut water, & Ethiopian coffee roasted in house served with optional soy creamer.
There are many Ethiopian restaurants in the East Bay yet would come here for the experience as much as the cuisine. You might find like me that you will become a regular!
Pros: Awesome fully vegan Ethiopian in Berkeley!
Guest
AveryA
Points +140
Amazing, spicy, ethiopian food - Edit
Loved my experience at kaffa, the meal was really substantive with strong and wonderfully complex flavors. The injera was some of the best I've ever had and was a big fan of the spicy mushroom dish.
Read moreGuest
veganguy111
Points +95
Great Place! - Edit
We went last night and really enjoyed the food. Food is oil free and legitimately has great flavours. I know the woman running this business is having a hard time with the high rent costs in Oakland, so please come and support this small one woman business!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-03-04
Pros: Everything's vegan and healthy, Almost everything's gluten free
Guest
JudithWood
Points +360
Delicious - Edit
Our group of 4 were the only lunch customers today, and I fear that she may not stay open without more business, which has dropped off significantly as the pandemic has eased up.
Read moreWe ordered 4 of the different plates and shared. Everything was very tasty. Items marked spicy are a bit hot, so pay attention if that’s an issue for you.
The GF member of our party was delighted by the all-teff, freshly-made injera, which everyone ate a lot of. Others enjoyed the Sambusa (only item not GF), Ethiopian coffee (a tiny cup of smooth, flavorful brew), and the Telba (flax seed smoothie).
As someone else said, you might expect a larger portion for the price, but we were fully satisfied. Keep in mind that this is a one-woman operation in an expensive place. This also accounts for the separate lunch. As and dinner hours. She needs a break!
Pros: All vegan, Gracious owner, All-teff injera and almost completely GF menu
Cons: Small and basic indoor dining or takeout , No outdoor seating , Portions adequate, but don’t expect leftovers
Guest
villain
Points +8379
Authentic experience, amazing owner - Edit
If you're looking for authentic Ethiopian food but still want to eat at an all vegan business, look no further! It would be great to support this restaurant, they need your help due to rising rents. The lady who runs Kaffa is so friendly and amazing at cooking. The sambusa is delicious, you can choose potato or lentil sambusa. Breading was nice. Spicing was perfect. Multiple different veggie entree options. The injera is freshly made, gluten free, delicious, and easy to digest!
Read morePros: Almost everything is gluten free!, Friendy and genuine owner
Cons: Small dining area
Guest
JakeFuller
Points +1534
Traditional Ethiopian Food - Edit
Injera bread is made fresh to order and is good. Veggies are solid and the buticha tasty. I’ve had better, but this was still good. Nice enough owner.
Read moreGuest
Geeokonkwo
Points +516
Fck yeah!! Wfpb & Tasty!! 😋 - Edit
Small restaurant ran & operated by an Elder Ethiopian Woman. Has a smell of fresh ethnic spices. The food is delicious, simple and tasty! I got the samosas which is everything other reviews said it would be, I prefer the lentil over potato (tried both). Other then the fried samosa, the food is OIL FREE!! wish it was also allium free, but hey, I'm grateful! I ordered number 1 & 2, all very tasty with the fresh injera. Mushroom tibs, shiro and eggplant were my faves. Everything was delicious except for the gomen haha.
Read moreOwner says she will soon close restaurant (2-3 months)due to rising costs of food and rent. Sad. Support while u can!! Food is excellent!! If u are wfpb or oil free u will LOVE this place! Everything is seasoned perfectly and oil free. A little expensive but it sure is worth it to pay for food that enriches ones life.💯
Updated from previous review on 2022-05-28
Pros: Oil free!! , Injera made fresh upon order, Woman owned and operated
Cons: Onions n garlic😭, Smaller portions
Guest
Doctordeb
Points +238
Perfectly wonderful, healthy plant based food - Edit
I've been wanting to try this restaurant for years, and called to check on availability for lunch. When I called to make the reservation, the woman who spoke to me (later discovered to be the owner/chef), wanted to be sure that I understood the food was vegan. I told her that I was vegan and very excited to try her food. The restaurant is very small, with only 4 tables inside. It's not in a very pretty area, however. The menu is limited to 5 plates of various combinations of lentil, yellow split peas, collard greens, and mixed vegetables (carrots, potatoes, and onions). Some dishes contained eggplant and mushrooms, but the owner advised us against it, as that was too spicy. There were two sizes, too, for lunch and dinner sized portions. She made very helpful suggestions, including that we should have our flax seed smoothie after we had starting eating, as having it before might fill us up before we even got to enjoy the food. One thing I had been worried about was the amount of oil I might have to contend with, but unbelievably, this chef is SOS free!! No added salt and no added oil. The injera bread came freshly made, a very large plate of these rolled up and easy to use to mop up all the delicious food on the plate. She knew exactly how many would be needed to eat all the food. By the time we had finished everything, including the delicious flax seed smoothie, we were feeling perfectly sated. We were the only people in the restaurant the entire time, so really it was as if we had been invited into this woman's home for a meal. She even urged me to finish the last piece of injera bread on the plate, as it was a lot of work to make. The chef is offering patrons really wonderful healthy food, which is not something you can often find in restaurants. For folks who are trying to maintain a WFPB SOS free diet, this is an extremely exciting find in the Bay Area. I highly recommend every vegan try Kaffa soon.
Read morePros: delicious, healthy food: beans and greens! , No added salt or oil!, homemade food, homey atmosphere
Cons: the ambiance is bare bones, The area doesn't feel very safe
Guest
PatnKko
Points +115
Small portions - Edit
The food has a very nice flavor but portions are super small. You have to eat a lot of injera to get full.
Read moreGuest
Lupin_3rd510
Points +82
Mediocre food, rude owner - Edit
There is much better vegan Ethiopian restaurants near by , old rude woman is very grumpy with no patience . The greens had too many stems in it as well.
Read morePros: Plant based
Cons: Mediocre Ethiopian food, Grumpy rude owner , Better Ethiopian food near by
Guest
Djo
Points +190
Very enjoyable - Edit
The owner is very sweet and the couple of times I went, she was there working by herself. Great food. The flavors are exquisite. And very filling. I was completely satisfied.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-09-24
Pros: All vegan, Ethnic food, Comfortable environment
Guest
StephenBickel
Points +17
Absolutely delicious! - Edit
! Like being invited into an Ethiopian home for dinner!
Read morePros: Delicious , Vegan, Mostly gluten free
Guest
SFRobbie
Points +1102
Hidden Gem in Berkeley - Edit
If you have never tried Ethiopian food, or if you're a seasoned fan, this tiny storefront restaurant is the place for you! It's a one-person operation by a very talented and sweet-hearted woman ("Shee-tie") who will make you want to come back again and again. Without a doubt the one vegan restaurant we go to more than any other in the Bay Area. There's a set menu of super fresh, incredibly spiced, and healthy all vegan fare, so choosing is easy! Almost everything is gluten free too.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-09-04
Pros: very reasonably priced, easy parking, amazing tastes!
Cons: simple decor but that's not what this is about
Guest
BeverlyDuran
Points +53
100% Recommend - Edit
It's 3/6/2021 a global pandemic has taken hold. But this business was still open and working hard to serve the community. The food was great and customer service was just as exemplary. Open for takeout only. Recommend the sambusa (both of them) and the Shiro! As well as the ethiopian coffee. Try it out
Read morePros: All vegan, Not expensive
Guest
sportsoul
Points +134
Wonderful Comfort Food - Edit
Quiet and friendly place. The hostess and chef is a sweet lady who takes the time to share interests about the food. She knows her vegan and made sure to share that.
Read moreShe seems to have about 4 combos on the menu and each combo has 4 items and a huge portion injera. You can order any item it seems as a side sides and they have potato or lentil sambusa.
Pros: Highly nutritious plant based whole food eating, Tasty items. Sooo tasty.
Cons: Not a con for me but there is serious spicy
Guest
coastalchickie
Points +419
So satisfying! - Edit
My husband and I had never had Ethiopian food before. We are both vegan, and I am also celiac/gluten free and allergic to spicy, so I wasn’t sure if I could eat Ethiopian food for that reason. The nice lady recommended 2 non spicy options for me. We took our food to go and as soon as I started eating, I knew I made a mistake. I ordered the regular and should’ve ordered the large! Actually, I probably would’ve ordered multiple to go in order to have leftovers. The minute I started eating, it was as if my body craved the flavors/nutrients and I shoveled it down! I’m normally a slow eater. This was delicious and I’m so sad that it’s far away from where we live! We were only in the area for work last month and are now back home, far, far away from this delicious food!
Read morePros: Gluten free options, Non spicy options/allergy friendly , Delicious!!!!
Cons: Too far from where I live :(
Guest
robfdilla
Points +539
I'm STUFFED! - Edit
Been on a new Ethiopian food wave so I HAD to stop by at Kaffa for some lunch. Just like the other reviews, the lady running the establishment was sweet as sugar. She was a little suspicious when she caught me taking a pic of the front. Once I told her I was going to blog and review on "Happy Cow", I see her eyes light up and smile (she was wearing a social distancing mask). I already did my online reconnaissance on their menu before hand and ordered right away. I got the LARGE #3: spicy red lentils, yellow split peas, gommen kale and mix veggies w/ a side of potato sambusa. DEEEELICIOUS!! Price point was good ($22 total w/ tip) and matched the portion size because I'm STUFFED writing this. Lol Kaffa is definitely going to be my go-to joint when I'm in the mood for Ethiopian. 5 stars, highly recommended.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-07-23
Pros: Friendly staff
Guest
VeganPitBullMom
Points +28
So tasty! - Edit
Excellent Vegan and Gluten Free food. Highly reccomend 🌱❤
Read moreGuest
toocooltobecruel
Points +43
Definitely go here, super yummy food and cutest owner!! - Edit
Such yummy dishes and the cook is the nicest lady ever! Special and nourishing food, positive atmosphere. We’re so glad we supported her all vegan restaurant and wish we would live closer.
Read moreGuest
MizzB
Points +3833
Fresh Ethiopian - Edit
Cozy, conveniently located, 100% vegan, authentic Ethiopian restaurant serving tasty freshly prepared dishes. Not as spicy as I prefer; even dishes listed as spicy on menu had minimal kick to them. Still, affordable prices, good sized portions. On street parking out front. Storefront in a strip of ethnic businesses. Indoor seating, takeout.
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Authentic Ethiopian food, Good sized portions at affordable prices
Cons: Service could be more attentive
Guest
Watermelonfelon
Points +67
One of a kind - Edit
Everything was delicious! The owner was so nice, and does a great job running the little place!
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Delicious, authentic Ethiopian cuisine
Guest
fuserra
Points +74
Lovely and fresh Ethiopian food - Edit
All vegan and delicious! Loved the host!
Read moreGuest
BikiZoom
Points +21
lovely & local - Edit
a precious small restaurant run by a very warm single mother. food is perfectly spiced with large portions & affordable prices. these local & independently run spaces need to be supported more than fancy commercial & business oriented vegan joints!
Read moreGuest
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