Cafe Selam

When I eat here, I get too full, but I still want more. I am worried when I share the dish that the other person eating will eat more than me, but there is too much for us to eat. Plus, it is seems very healthy, and I feel good after eating here. The people working here are very sweet as well. I want to eat here all the time!!! Yum!

This is the best meal we’ve had in a while and this tiny corner is making it into the top three restaurants in Seattle. We passed by the place and it seemed like a hole in the wall so I was more than skeptical about what it had to delver. Boy was I wrong. On Saturday for lunch, the place was packed with and everyone was enjoying steaming tea or coffee and platters of food eaten in injeera. Each of the dishes was packed with great flavor and had a nice spicy kick. We ordered both a veg and non-​veg combo. I have to say that the veg dishes just shine and make this place a paradise for vegetarians. Keep in mind that the portions are very generous: a combination dish is more than enough for two people but who can say no to leftover.

Everyone else in the place looked Ethiopian, which probably says a lot about the food. Service was very friendly.
For us, the food seemed under spiced in general. Ethiopian happens to be one of our favorite ethnic cuisines and we’ve eaten a lot of it over the years. This was very mild for Ethiopian. We did ask for the beef dish (ordered for our kids) to be made mild and maybe this translated over into everything else. In any case we were a bit disappointed by the flavors.
In terms of price, the combos are worth the money but the single entrees don’t seem to be. The beef tibs was more expensive than the vegetarian combo for what seemed far less food. We should have ordered one veggie combo for us and one meat combo for the kids. The coffee and tea were good.
Decent Ethiopian food but not the best in my experience.

Veggie Ethiopian combo was delicious and hot and just so good. Chill, no frills place but good food and friendly service.

Yum! We had the vegetarian combo and the fish stew. Even my picky five year old found a veggie dish she loved, and our friendly waitress brought her more of her favorite. This place is not fancy, but the food was delicious and we will definitely return.

From the outside, this place looks like a weird house. You might feel uneasy approaching it – even when you’re even inside. But trust me, this place is worth your time. The family who works there are super friendly. It seems like this place is more Eritrean cuisine than Ethiopian – that’s what I heard from the grapevine.
The food, though, oh my gawd. Tbh, I came here when I was hung over because I needed some of that spongy bread to soak up some alcohol. But was I surprised with the actual amazingness of the meal that I had. The lamb was flavored so well – savory but not too salty. The vegetables were brazed and seasoned marvelously.
I recommend this place to anyone who is seeking something different and yummy.

We ate there for the first time yesterday because of the good reviews on Unilocal,and because we like Ethiopian food and have been eating it in various restaurants from Washington, D.C., to Dallas, Texas for 30 years.
Let’s just say that this was probably the best-​tasting Ethiopian food we have had at any and every Ethiopian restaurant we have ever eaten at! The taste and seasoning of every item (we had the meat combo + vegetable combo) was near perfect.
One caveat: One of the dishes was a Serrano pepper paste, and the beef was cooked with Serrano peppers. We mentioned to the waitress (the owner’s daughter) that this was the first time we’d had Serrano peppers in any Ethiopian food (or maybe just couldn’t taste it before), and she expressed some surprise, and suggested that maybe the other restaurants tamed the food down for American tastes. She said that it can be prepared without the peppers for people who don’t like food that spicy. (The beef was fine, but the Serrano pepper paste would be too hot for a lot of people.)
Ignore the quaintness and unfanciness of the outside and inside. This (at least the two dishes we had) is excellent Ethiopian food!

Excellent food paired with friendly staff in a quaint setting was my experience here. We had the vegetarian plate with an addition of spicy lamb. It was awesome! I recommend trying their coffee, too. They have several Ethiopian beers in bottles above their cold drink area, which is interesting. Loved it…

This was my first Ethiopian food experience and it was delicious…
When we first arrived, I was underwhelmed as it looks like a small hole-​in-​the-​wall type of place. We were a rather large group, but we were able to pull some tables together so we could sit together.
The waitress seemed a little confused… I’m not sure she understood or spoke very much English? But she got our order right, so can’t complain. The veggie combo (in my opinion) is a huge portion! I was sharing with someone and we both were not able to finish the dish alone. It was a great option since we could get a sampling of all the veggie dishes.
We ended our meal with tea and it was a good option on a slightly chilly day. Very flavorful and aromatic.
Overall, great experience.

How did I just find out about this place? Ethiopian is my favorite cuisine. Café Selam’s food is super fresh and my favorite Ethiopian I’ve had in Seattle. fyi, I’m vegetarian so my go-​to is of course the vegetarian combo. Try the gluten-​free injera, it’s delicious.

Café selam is one of the best ethiopian cusin restaurant in Seattle area. When I say that, talking about the food quality and authenticity, close to the real deal of back home. I love everything about the food of café selam.
One thing I can say is the place to small and cleanness of the house need more attention.
Enjoy
Alexander Samuel

Oh my gosh, y’all. These folks went on vacation for 10 days and it SERIOUSLY impacted my quality of life.
The old lady and I eat here at least weekly. We are gluten-​free and they ALWAYS have gluten-​free injera on hand. Now, there are many restaurants that have the gf injera these days but they are NOTHING like this. This injera is soft, tangy, and perfect.
I can only speak to the vegetarian dishes, but they are miles and miles ahead of the myriad other places in Seattle I’ve tried. I went on a frantic Ethiopian restaurant sampling spree when I thought Selam was gone forever, and I am afraid my palate is now ruined for all other Ethiopian food.
It’s that good.

Got an order for pickup. I thought, this place must be good, since it only Ethiopian folks were dining there.
The food is great here, however on the very small side. The $ 13 veggie combo came with 6 small sides: cabbage, fresh salad, spinach (?), and 3 different kinds of lentils. There’s really not enough for all the injera. The size is fine for one person, although at most other Ethiopian places, I would be able to a combo and be full.
If/​when I order from them again, I’ll skip on the veggie combo and just order the lentils.
If the interior matters, it’s nowhere you’d want to go for a nice meal out.

I LOVE this place! I’ve eaten here on the patio and done takeout too. The place itself is no frills, and the patio outside is great in nice weather. I’ve gotten the veggie special, lamb, beef, and everything is fantastic. Also the brunch is AMAZING, I always get fuul, and they roast the coffee beans themselves. There are always a lot of Ethiopian people here, which seems like a good sign.

Flavors were good, portion was not really sufficient for 2 people, but very well priced for the portion size. We got the meat platter, but wished I had ordered the veggie. I was really displeased with the cuts of meat that literally contained at least 30% fat pieces and gristle. We actually left most of the meat behind, but gobbled up the delicious vegetarian portions we had. The injera was nice and so was the service. I’d like to maybe try the vegetarian version.

I come here for breakfast and order Ethiopian spiced tea & foul and some firfir …
Love everything about this place Service is always very friendly and fast.

I seek out Ethiopian food in every city I live from Portland to Chicago to Denver. This is the best Ethiopian I’ve ever had. My favorite! I’ve tried all the nearby Ethiopian restaurants and this one will be my go-​to spot for sure. The serving portions are huge, the food is rich and flavorful with perfect spice, and the service is excellent!
Note: they serve gluten free injera. And it’s amazing.

This is the new great Ethiopian place.
I thought a little while but it does have everything for five stars.
The two of us dined really well for 12 $. The food was tasty. It was not too oily. It had spice and flavor. Service was good. It is a small family run place. Parking was easy to find.
Kudos and we will be back.

This is by far the best Ethiopian food in the central district and capitol hill neighborhoods.
After trying multiple Ethiopian restaurants in the area (most that did not even compared in flavor and price), I have to say this place is a true gem.
The lamb titbits and veggie combo are delicious together and a make for a satisfactory dinner for 2.
The atmosphere of this place is very laid back. Time seems to just slow down as soon as you enter the their front patio. That being said, you must be patient with the staff, do not expect quick service. Instead, spend the time waiting for your food, people watching and sipping on a beer, it is part of the charm of this family owned restaurant.
This is the place to chill in a summer afternoon. Order a few beers off of their Ethiopian beer selection for $ 3 a piece and enjoy some (literally) finger-​licking good food.
xoxo
–Yobo

Ugh I have a sick obsession with this place. The food is absolutely delicious, authentic and fresh. I usually always stick with the meat combo, and it’s ALOT of food. Enough for 2 starving people :)
OH, and they didn’t forget the silverware. Your suppose to eat with your hands!