One of my favorite Winnipeg restaurants for many years. Their injera bread is oddly addicting, the prices are very cheap given the flavour of everything is so amazing. The vegetarian platter with a stuffed jalapeno is always my go-to.
I love Kokeb, their prices are super reasonable and quite delicious food. BONUS that they have vegan options, that's so amazing. It's a little less spicy than I would expect from Ethiopian food, but they do have little containers of spicy green sauce that helps, but it's very mild. I've gone for the buffet before, which is really fantastic for a quick lunch. It was also good, but mild flavor. I am not sure if the buffet is vegan, I have not been since I cut out dairy and eggs. Yum!
So. Full. This place was amazing. We shared samosas and a veggie combo for 2, and I don't even know what the individuals items were called but there were lentils, split peas, salads, cabbage, potatoes, beets, all flavoured so perfectly. I can not wait to be back!
Kokeb delivers quality Ethiopian cuisine. The true standout dishes were the vegetarian options and given their quality, Kokeb offers incredible value for the low price charged. Perfect for anyone in the area looking for good African/Ethiopian food, just get your protein load elsewhere.
Best Samosas/Ethiopian Coffee. We were invited by friends who are Ethiopian. This is their favorite Ethiopian restaurant and we can see why! Everything we ate was full of flavor and the place has a nice jibe. We love our samosas and this is the best Samosas I have ever had. We had both the beef and vegetarian with the hot relish...the hot relish is amazing! I could make a meal of the samosas alone - would be a great pre-game bite with a couple of beer or glass of wine. Do not go without experiencing the Ethiopian coffee- hands down it is the best coffee I have ever had in a restaurant. Excellent service!
Phenomenal. Great food and good service. Busy with Ethiopian Nationals but that just tells me that the food is the real deal. Not much of a wait and first exposure to the cuisine was a pleasant experience.
Best veggie platter in the city. The sambussas are good, especially the hot sauce that comes with them.
Reliably good food and a great value. Anytime I can count on a vegan buffet, that is both good and very affordable, I will become a regular customer. Kokeb is consistent in both food quality and cost effectiveness. The vegan lunch buffet is smaller than some but still has more than enough variety for me. It is self service but the host is prompt with water and the delicious home made hot sauce. As for the buffet, the injera is cold but fresh. The red lentils are by far my favourite with the beet cabbage coming in second. The rest of the offerings, particularly the yellow peas are very mild and may be considered bland by some. If you like spice, the yummy and super flavourful hot sauce adds a lot. Lunch for two is $20 for good quality, healthy food. Can't beat that.
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Decided to try this place before a jets game and its a place that should be tried as its no typical Canadian eating experience. They have tv's showing sports and the atmosphere is very sparse but clean. It felt like we were in vacation as most of the patrons are native habitants of Ethiopia. We started with beef and veggie samosas, the green condiment that comes with it is HOT but addictive. These were very tasty but we wouldn't have needed them to fill us up as the combo platter we got was huge. There are no utensils; just flat bread that comes as your eating device. You get a huge plate if their native bread, I'd compare it to carpet underly with a sour dough bread taste. The food isn't full of flavor, it was nice there was coleslaw and pickled beets on the platter to give more taste dimension. Me and my husband are good eaters and we had to work to finish this combo. My husband ordered coffee with cream and he received what must have been espresso, not his idea if a good coffee but I'm sure coffee lovers would like it. I appreciated that my pop came in a vintage glass bottle. Certainly a place to try with friends as a fun evening out
Been twice in then past 5 weeks. Both times were great. A new favourite. Quite affordable, service is good, restaurant is clean and tidy. Last time had the beef ribs, very good.
Me and my boyfriend's favorite spot! Everyone is so friendly and the food is always perfect!
Lunch Buffet. The lunch buffet is about eight choices of your standard vegetarian Ethiopian fare (lentil dishes, berebere potatoes, cabbage/carrots, greens, etc) and injera off to the side. Everything was nicely spiced, tasty and fresh. I will be back!
Great new location. I was a semi-regular customer before when they were on ellice, but now their new location on edmonton just makes it even more fantastic. It's definitely a better spot for them, and I'm sure there's a flow of new customers thanks to the hydro building being so close.
Food prices have gone up a bit, but the food is just as amazing as ever. My boyfriend and I shared the meat platter and it was delcious. I love the new atmosphere created from their new interiors. I thought the flat screen tvs didn't fit the vibe as well, but that's just my opinion. The bar also looks good. The owner recognized my boyfriend and I from before, so you know that we'll be coming back :)
So delicious. My sweetheart and I have been twice, but it's not often enough. I can't believe we found amazing Ethiopian food served in a timely way and in such an attractive environment. Apparently downtown near Manitoba Hydro is a new location for them. It's certainly bright and cheerful, and the staff are welcoming. But the food -- delicious, nuanced, plentiful, and priced well. The two of us have appetizers, fill ourselves on the main dishes and take home leftovers, as well as have a beer each, for about $30. Highlights: samosas, especially the beef, for $1.79, and a great veggie combo platter with extra injera for
Very Unique. I don't know if I would want to eat this type of food frequently, but it was sure a pleasant experience because of the uniqueness. Service was great. The place was packed and the overall atmosphere was super.
Back and better than ever! The newly renovated restaurant (now on Edmonton and Graham) is much brighter and more modern than the old location They now do breakfast, and dessert! Food is as great as ever with many new meat additions and a new veggie addition. Love this place!!!
Still closed - June 23 to present. No sign of life at their new location since their last day (June 23/12) at their old location. Old location torn down (building expropriated). Using Modern nearby on Portage as a backup until Kokeb returns. Dinner for 2 at Modern this evening cost us as much as Kokeb - and Modern's food was good. Service at Modern was better than Kokeb.
Was expecting better from reviews here and word of mouth. 4 of us shared a combo platter and it wasn't bad, but some of it was stone cold. Would be willing to try it again though. And crazy cheap to eat here.
Lunch Buffet. Love this daily vegetarian lunch buffet with 3 kinds of lentils, potatoes, and 2 cabbage dishes.
My favourites were the Tumeric Lentils and the spicier Berbere Lentils. The potatoes simmering in a delicious gravy were also very good. The beet and cabbage dish was nice especially since I love beets...the other cabbage dish was a little under-cooked for my taste. There was also white rice and injera available.
It's a buffet so you get to serve yourself. They also have a wicked green house hot-sauce that packs some nice heat. The owner/ server came around with water and was friendly and polite. Buffet will set you back a measly $9.01 including tax ! A really great meal for the price !
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Endeared to Injeera. Kokeb boasts advantages and disadvantages over the other Ethiopian restaurants in town. The food is not as fresh as Massawa, but the selection is wider and the service quicker.
If you like heat, order the stuffed jalapenos to start.
To end, I highly recommend the coffee ceremony. Not unlike espresso, the process is educational. And beautiful.
Service is fast and friendly and the food is delicious. As per the style of cooking, the menu features wat, Ethiopian stews served on a traditional flat bread called injeera.
Kokeb's particular takes on these seems to offer far more fixins than that of Massawa for instance. You'll find slices of boiled egg embedded in the beef, or fresh herbs garnishing the chicken. You'll also find a wider range of proteins, respecting and reflecting a wider arc of the cuisine.
This does make for some challenges, especially if you've never eaten this kind of food before. But isn't that half of the fun...part of the adventure?
And unlike Massawa, the menu descriptions much more clearly distinguish one dish from another.
Veg platter is the way to go. The vegie platter is so amazing. I crave the red lentils constantly and the yellow beans are great too. And I can eat the injera because it is made with Teff flour and is Gluten Free!
Some of the best food in the city. I have been to Kokeb on several occassions and I have to say, it is amazing. For those who have never tried Ethiopian food, it's completely unique (for example, you use copious amounts of a form of fermented bread as both your plate and your utensil). Service is friendly, and very laid-back... depending on your preference this can be either a good thing or bad thing.
I have recommended Kokeb to many people; the food is delicious, homemade, genuine cooking and the prices are beyond reasonable. Their lunch buffet is dirt cheap. Kokeb is not only the best Ethiopian food in the city, but also some of the best food in Winnipeg period. Highly, highly recommended.
First Time at Kokeb. Very tasty food in large quantities at a great price. Everything we had was excellent: the vegetarian platter, the vegetarian samosas, the Eritrean beer and coffee. I'll be back for all of them. The server came to offer more lentil stew when he noticed we had finished eating that item on our shared platter. There were left overs when we were done. You won't leave hungry - even without dessert.
Eating with the our hands, not something we do often, was made easier for use, as the instructions were under glass on the table.
Quiet, clean, comfortable atmoshpere. Friendly, efficient service. Well worth one or more visits.
What have I been missing?!?!. Our first shot at Ethiopian food turned into one of the best food experiences of my life!
This unassuming little place just blew my mind!
Three of us shared a large combo platter, which is made up of a half-dozen or more of their menu items, and each one is simply amazing! I have no idea what the items were, other than lentils, chicken, etc.....but the spices! The flavors were simply out of this world!
I loved the 'eating with your fingers' approach, and the large, shared platter of food. It made the meal so personal and friendly.
It's a family run place, and everyone we spoke with were great!
This is my new FAVORITE place!
Tasty, cheap and fast. Food is great here - flavourful, fast and cheap. Communication with staff can be difficult at times but the staff make every attempt understand and accommodate you. This definitely give the "other Ethiopian restaurant" in the city a run for its money.
What an experience. We have lived in the area for years and always walked passed this place. It really is a hidden gem. Open very late & with amazing food, portions & prices. Loved the vegetarian platter & samosas. Wasn't sure what food was supposed to be served hot or cold, but everything was delicious as it was.
Best Ethiopian Restaurant in Winnipeg.. The food is similar in quality to Massawa's but the service is much quicker and the portions are larger. Expect a 15 minute wait here rather than a 2 hour wait like at Massawa's. It's dirt cheap to boot. The first time I came here I split one of their platters with someone; it was spicy and delicious and gave you a good variety of food. I'm not sure if between the two of us we were even able to finish it all and yet the bill came up to less than $20. Their Ethiopian coffee is also excellent and I would recommend trying it as well. So take my advice, give Massawa a pass and come here instead.
Ebjoyable experience and awesome food!. Went there with a few friends for dinner and it was amazing. The platters are absolutely the best value. You get a large assortment of food, with the injera bread to eat it with. I loved how for first timers they have the instructions on how to use the bread on the table. The samosas and dip were the best I have EVER had! The only negative thing about the place might be it's size. It's not a huge restaurant so had it been really busy the night we had gone, we might not have been able to get a table quickly. That being said, the service is outstanding! Can't wait to go back!
I was there the other day for their veggie buffet! I was delicious. Excellent price as well, only $8!
Yummy Stuff. I can't judge much for the atmosphere of Kokeb as I have only ordered takeout but what I can talk about is the food and it is indeed great.
I've walked by this restaurant a great many times while doing my daily errands and always took a whiff of the amazing smells that came out of there until I couldn't take it anymore and decided to order. It wasn't my usual food fare before but I'm glad I took the risk.
So far I haven't gotten further than ordering the Kokeb Bayaynetu as it is so yummy that it prevents me from trying anything else. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit. Great prices and great food
You have to have the coffee ceremony!!!! What an amazing cup of coffee, the staff are friendly and the samosas are delicious!
I was told about kokeb 2 years ago. We go monthly Love the special,feeds 2 people. Busy on wknds with a bar inside but great food and inexpensive.
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I have been going to Kokeb for a number of years now. Each time, I’ll bring a new friend along with me to try Ethiopian food. Everyone I have brought to the restaurant had nothing negative to say and many have requested me to go back with them. I think Ethiopian food is quite fun to eat. The first thing you’ll notice is that they don’t eat with utensils so make sure you wash your hands! They tear a piece of injera 1 and use it to scoop up the stews and salads. Their new location is close to Portage Place Shopping Centre. During the day, it is well lit, however, in the evening it can get a bit dim inside. I think it was a bit too dark for my taste, but I didn’t mind too much. My friend and I walked in at around 7:30PM and took a seat at table. We were given menus and water. Something that I do have to mention is that the service is very leisurely. Once you’ve received your food, most often you will have to waive down the server if you need more water or would like to order something else. I ordered the veggie combo and she got the beef tibs. We also ordered one beef samosa and one veggie samosa to try out. Both of the restaurant owners know me and always include a little bowl of their hot sauce with my food. Their hot sauce is kind of like a paste that resembles relish, but is a mixture of delicious, hot spices. (Those of you who aren’t a fan of spicy food might find this sauce a bit too much.) Our samosas came and my friend was eager to open them up. I warned her that they are really hot in the inside for a bit so we split them and let them cool some more. Our food came shortly after. I’ve tried most of the things on the menu, but the veggie combo has to be my favourite. I really like the selection that’s on the plate and with the different spices they use, I tend to forget that there isn’t any meat. I really like vegetables and I find that the meat dishes don’t come with enough salad to my liking, but my friend didn’t mind. When I asked her to describe the food as
I have gone to Kokeb a few times in the last five or six years and always enjoyed myself. This week I had the chance to try their lunch buffet for a second time. It is also the second time that I have been to their new location (their old one was closed because the building was demolished for the construction of centrepoint). The new spot is a beautiful and well lit location across from the Hydro Building. It is nice, but it doesn’t have the ambiance that the other place had. The owner is friendly and always offers hot sauce in small cups, which I would accept because the neither the sauce nor the food is very spicy (to my level of tolerance). It’s a buffet so don’t expect a server fawning over you. The food was true to buffet form: there were good options (8 dishes?) and better than anything else, I could try them all. A vegetarian buffet is something of a miracle of gluttony for me. Injera is available so that you can eat with your hands in the trad
The service is leisurely, but friendly and attentive. The decor is mainly dark wood, and the walls are covered with a variety of pieces or Ethiopian art and photographs. There are large screen TVs usually broadcasting sporting events, but they are easily tuned out if you want space for conversation, or as I generally dine alone, reading.
This was my favourite place 15 years ago, and I'm eating here right now for the first time in ages and it's still my fave. The food is amazing, and the owners will do everything they can to give you the best dining experience they can.
Casual Ethiopian eatery with art on the walls, traditional fare & fixed-price all-you-can-eat lunch.
I am very foodie. I love to eat and cook. The food gives us energy. Without food, there is no life. There are so many dishes available in today’s world some like Indian foods like Biryani, Dosa, Pav Bhaji, Pani Puri etc whereas some like western foods like Pizza, Burger, Noodles etc. Among the number of food, Pizza is my favourite food because it tastes and smells fabulous.
No matter how much I have eaten, I never fail to make myself feel hungry when I have my favourite pizzas in front of me. Flavours are felt exploding in my mouth when I take the 1st bite of my pizza. My love for my pizzas is eternal and nobody on this earth could ever take this from me until I die
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Went into the restaurant to try the food. The food is better than delivery and looks of course way more appealing.
I was impressed with their flavors on the delivery, and they continue to deliver in the dining room. The person serving us was just as nice as the person who was on the phone as both were very helpful.
The pricing can't be beat. 2 combos including meat for under $22 before tax. Many other restaurants have it closer to $26.
I give this a 5 with some stipulation. The food flavor and value is 5. The jalapeno sauce on the side really makes the food. If you can't have that then the food can depend. I wasn't a fan of the salad which is just salad with Italian dressing. The server was super friendly as well. It's an ok space and parking can be a pain. There were some issues with the bathroom but I figure that will be fixed in the future.
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This is a delivery review.
We ordered the kokeb combo that serves 2, plus an extra order of lamb.
With orders over $20 it's free delivery with skip. You have to give a minimum 10% tip to driver. The odd thing was you couldn't choose a percentage. Just in 5% increments. (10, 15, 20)
It was generous amount of food.
We had spoken to someone from the restaurant before actually ordering as we had a question.
The combo comes with choice of lamb, beef or chicken (you choose 2). You can also choose chicken breast or chicken thighs if you want chicken. There is also another option for deep fried meat?? We had minor issues with communications. After getting our food I do regret not following his advice. Trust the guy as he knows what most of his clients actually like. I thought I wanted something then realized my mistake after.
We received 2 boxes of injera. I think it's because we had 2 orders of food?
My one complaint was they hard packed everything into the first box. It would have been nice if items were spaced out a touch more and the meal given in 2 boxes instead of over lapping.
Another thing the man on the phone seemed to be suggesting was for us to go in to eat. The food we received was very tasty, just not visually as appealing. I think had we been in the restaurant I might have loved it instead of just liking it.
However, next time I would be encouraged to go.
The injera came with a green sauce that was like a chili salsa. I really liked that.
I crave this place every so often. When I left Winnipeg for two years, this was my go to when I return to Winnipeg, I can’t find another Ethiopian restaurant so far that taste better than this. I usually do take out here but still prefers eating in because of the big plate. The combo platter that serves two is the best bang for you buck. It could feed up to 3 people!
So good!! First time there and I was lured by the aroma like a cartoon skunk. Ordered the veggie combo, which was a every veggie option for $10 (!!!) super friendly staff talked me into a veggie samosa to start. Green lentil filling was a nice suprise and came with a bangin garlic chili hot sauce/salsa. Bold, complex flavours and a crazy big portion. I will absolutely be back. Non-food related perks included the owner refusing to change his soccer game to jets for a drunk guy and a dj setting up and starting to play Patsy Cline around 9.
Awesome food and very neat kitchen and exceptional service .. one word.. exceptional. Do visit this place if you’re looking for trying something new .
Best ethnic food in the city! Had take out many times and the portions are very generous. Dine in is great as well, staff and service is always very good. Hope you like spicy cause their jalapeno sauce is to die for. 5⭐
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