Back when I wrote up Akin’s restaurant, I mentioned that it was one of three restaurants that we part of the same building that houses both Mercadito Latino, and Harman’s. Harman’s is an Ethiopian restaurant with an interesting history. Harman’s was originally a drug store that stood on the corner of Sherbrook Street and Portage Avenue. and among other things, was famous for its lunch counter. I have to admit, that for all the many times I had heard about the lunch counter I never visited.
Great food and wonderful owner that cares about more than just her restaurant. Most of the profit goes to support an orphanage in Ethiopia which is reported on every year at her fundraiser. This is where the Canadian-Ethiopians go. If you like coffee order it AT THE BEGINNING of your meal and it is roasted on the spot and prepared. Ethiopian food will be the main food in heaven so if you want a taste of heaven this is where you go.Dan Maxson
I was at first hesitant to go to this restaurant as Ethiopian food is something that's still novel to me. However, I am glad that I'm adventurous enough to expand my horizons. After being dragged to Harman's cafe by friends, I could proudly say I may become a regular.
I would suggest to try the combination platters as those seem to come out quicker than the other dishes. For the best of both worlds, and if you are an omnivore, the meat and vegetables combination will definitely satisfy ones hunger. Also, get the coffee. You won't regret how fun this restaurant makes getting a simple cup of coffee.
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After reading the great reviews, my friend and I decided to try this place. When we got there, we were greeted by a clean, nicely decorated dining room with loads of ambience. Unfortunately, my nose was stopped short by the heavy smell of incense that pervaded the place. I have no scent allergies that I'm aware of but as the meal progressed, I developed a headache and the only relief came when I hopped outside to move my car from one 1-hour street parking zone to another.My friend and I ordered the meat and vegetable combination platters and the food was served fresh and delicious!! No cutlery so you get to muck around like a kid by tearing off pieces of the injera (large spongy flat bread) and soaking up every delicious morsel of food. Such fun and soooo yummy! Then I ordered the coffee which took 25 minutes for them to make but it was well worth the wait. They roast the beans right there and prepare this exquisite coffee served in a lovely pottery jebena...heavenly stuff I would go back for again and again. My friend had the tea which had the lovely aroma of cloves and other exotic spices. Just a couple of extra tips on this...the owner advised we should call ahead for any gluten-free requests and also if we are planning to order the coffee. Good idea but how would we know this if they don't have a website or other form of social media where they advertise and advise of such?!I really wanted to give this place a 5.0 but could not due to the smell factor in the place, something I feel I need to warn others about. Even the owner's attitude, although a bit indifferent at first, warmed up to us and we to her as our visit progressed. She even gifted my friend with a handful of exotic spices to take home and brew her own tea. Turns out the incense smell somehow lodged itself in my nose so that was all I smelled for the next few weeks. I have never had a reaction like that so I visited my doctor and discovered it was an allergic reaction. I guess in this day and age, scent-free is the only way to go in any establishment...well other than the smell of good food which this place definitely has. Hopefully they will get rid of the incense and I can go back for another visit.
I definitely overate here and I would do it all over again! I am so impressed with the platter we ordered. It had 2 vegetable dishes and several other meat dishes to try. All very delectable ! Great for 3 people. 5.0 for the amazing food, I will be back here for sure.
Always great food! Warm customer service and great atmosphere. Their coffee is a must have, ask for it when you order your food as they roast the beans in the dining area. It comes with a frankincense burning away on a charcoal block as well. Great experience!
LOVE LOVE LOVE. Order the platter if you're two hungry people. If not, get the beef tibs -- best I've ever had! Wash your hands before you eat because their flatbread is your utensil to scoop up all the deliciousness! And it is really lovely and spongey. The best is the flatbread underneath all of the food that has sat and soaked up all the sauces and oils and salts -- OMG. 👌🏼 The owner/chef is also the loveliest and friendliest person you'll ever meet. I am completely addicted to her salad dressing (make sure you get salad on the side of whatever you get) -- it's lemony and herby and fresh and is a perfect palate break from all the rich, savoury dishes. The owner was even attentive enough to notice I always order extra salad whenever I go, so last time she gave me extra dressing to go home with (and gave me the recipe too)! It's a casual place, but if you're a sauce or curry lover, you will love it!
We went to Harman's last evening and we're treated to another excellent dinner. The restaurant owner/chef served us the delicious meat and vegetable combo.
The meal was great and the dining experience a delight. Very good value for the pocketbook too.
If you want to try or retry an Ethiopian treat, definitely come here.
Wow! This place was amazing . The food was great ( had the veggie and meat combo ) staff was friendly . The coffee is roasted in front of you and tastes amazing .
I just visited Harman's Cafe with my Foodies group for the first time. What a wonderful experience. The owner and staff were very warm, welcoming, attentive and informative. The food was excellent with very generous portions at a very reasonable price. The decor was interesting and pleasing to the eye. I definitely recommend this Restaurant and definitely plan to return.
The best Ethiopian food I have had yet in Winnipeg. So much flavour in all the veggie dishes, not one lentil dish tastes like the others. And the fresh coffee they roast in front if you is AMAZING. Definitely worth the trip to Sargent Ave.
Desta is back and the food was awesome! I missed her and her amazing cooking! The portions were huge and lots to take home with me. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. The customer service is excellent. The restaurant was clean.
Best I've had in years. Excellent food!
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What to expect. We have eaten at all the City's Ethiopian restaurants multiple times, so we can say with confidence that this is the best in terms of the actual food (Kokeb is a close second).
The service is up and down largely depending on how busy it is. When the restaurant is busy, Desta can be a bit short. She serves by herself and she also helps cook, so she can get a bit stressed. But don't let that turn you off. The food is well worth it.
Note that this restaurant is WAY faster than Massawa even during its busiest times.
If you have never eaten Ethiopian food before, let me explain what to expect.
You will have a choice of a range of dishes - some meat and some vegetarian. You can choose individual dishes, or you can order a combo platter (either mixed meat and veg or meat only or veg only). I recommend you choose a platter. They are a few dollars more than the individual dishes but they let you taste multiple dishes in one visit.
The meat is either beef, lamb, or chicken depending on what you order. They do not serve pork because most Ethiopians don't eat pork (for religious reasons). They also do not have fish or seafood here.
The veggie platter consists of: brown lentils, shiro (a bean dish), yellow split peas, spinach, and a mixture of carrots/potatoes and cabbage (each of these is a separate dish).
The meat and veg dishes are each prepared using different Ethiopian spices. There are some spicy dishes (though nothing is too spicy), and some mild dishes. Desta serves a wonderful side mixture of mixed chilies and garlic if you want to spice things up.
The food arrives in separate piles on a large plate that is covered with "injera", a soft, spongy, slightly sour tasting bread that is traditionally made with teff flour. All of the Winnipeg Thiopian restaurants mix the teff flour with a bit of all purpose flour and barley, because teff is expensive in Winnipeg.
The food is placed in little piles on top of the injera, and you are supposed to rip small pieces of injera and pick up the food with the injera to eat it. You do not get forks or other utensils. The injera is your utensil.
Don't ask for a fork. It's disrespectful of the way Ethiopians traditionally eat, and in this restaurant, she won't give you a fork. If you don't want to eat with your hands, don't go to this restaurant. However, I recommend you try it. The injera keeps your hands relatively clean, and she gives you lots of napkins.
We eat here at least once a week and we can't get enough!
Fantastic. Highly recommended for food, service, and value.
This is by far the most incredible Ethiopian restaurant I have ever ate at.I love the way serves the food with a smile and makes me feel special.I truly do recommend this restaurant.
Great Food. The service is attentive and fast especially compared to Masawa. The food is great, tasty and fresh. You will never run out of injera as they bring more as necessary. Order coffee before you order the meal as it takes a long time to prepare and is an event after the meal.
I could eat here everyday. Without a doubt one of the best restaurants Winnipeg. You don't know what you're missing if you haven't eaten here.
Place is clean and welcoming. Looks very authentic. We ordered the meat and vegetarian combination and some samosas. Samosas were good. Served with 3 sauces, they're all good, especially the green spicy sauce. The curries have good flavours. The whole dining experience is unique since you have to eat with your hands. They don't have spoons lol but you can use the tiny spoons that came with the samosa sauces if you need help scooping the curries. I'm not a big fan of the pancake-type of bread, I wish they have other starch options.
This is one of our favourite places to go in all of Winnipeg. The food is absolutely delicious, the flavours are incredible. I'd recommend the meat and veggie combo for the most variety!
The BEST FOOD! & SERVICE! D.... The BEST FOOD! & SERVICE!
Desta is fast, with Delicious food& choice!
Consistancy& Price is impeccable !
If you Love Ethiopian , you Need to eat here!!!
Harman's is My Addiction !
Love you Desta!!!!!
Great Food. My wife and I have gone here twice now, loved it both times. The food has a great flavor, just remember you don't get standard cutlery in an Ethiopian restaurant, so be prepared to east with your hands. The prices are reasonable, and are a great value for how full we felt when we left.
The special Ethiopian coffee is a great way to end the meal.
Best Ethiopian food food I have eaten period loved the combo platter and the vinto drink was delicious and amazing service very nice people
Very good food, friendly & quick service. Better atmosphere than Kekob.
Best ethiopian in town. Huge platters of great quality ethiopian food. The injera is thicker than how I like but the flavours are always consistent good and you get your food fast. Service leaves a little to be desired but still much better than Massawa. The owner can be abrupt since she may be the only one cooking and serving.
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A full belly. Harman's Cafe is the second ethiopian restaurant I've tried, the other being Kokeb, and I must say the food is pretty much on par with Kokeb. I had a mixed platter of meat and veggies for two. My boyfriend took me out there for my birthday!
The interior is nicely decorated, soft purple tones and long beaded threads that act as archways that you can pass through. Doing this made them effectively divide and see how spacious the restaurant is inside. Although I must say they have a number of chinese themed paintings and the like decorating their walls.
The food was great, and despite the long wait, it was well received and worth it. Our platter also came with a side dish that had different spices and cheese. Everything was tasty, and in the end, I was stuffed to the point of not being able to take another bite.
Service was on the slow side, and we were confused whem we were done and unsure if they gave out a bill or not. There is a bell at the counter so you should tap it to get someone's attention!
It's delicious, whatever it is. I've been wanting to write this review for a very long time, but didn't know what to say. I've been here a half dozen times and each time I go for the same thing - the combo platter, with 3 meat dishes and 4 veggie dishes served family-style with salad and injira bread. The problem is, although I absolutely love these dishes to bits and would have it all the time if I could, I never have any clue what I'm eating. So, that being said, throw caution to the wind and go visit Harman's. Look at the last page of the menu and order one of the Ethiopian combos, sit back, and enjoy a great culinary experience. Top it off with some delicious fresh-roasted Ethiopian coffee at the end of your meal as well.
This place has the same quality of food and same prices as Massawa, but with much better service and turnaround. I never have to wait long and the combo platters are delicious.
*Update: I have been to Harman's about half a dozen times and have always ordered the same combo platter, split between me and another person. When I went again recently, I ordered the exact same combo platter. The cook/server/owner kept on saying "two people" and I kept clarifying that we're ordering the one combo platter for the two of us. She brought out the same platter, selection, and injera as I've normally received. The problem was when it was time for the bill, she charged us for double since there were 2 people. We kept on trying to clarify, but she was being stubborn and we weren't in the mood to fight. It was a rare circumstance, although unpleasant, I would still come here for the food and better service.
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Deliciously Interesting Experience. For the first time ever I decided to try one of our city's 5 Ethipoian restaurants (that I know of) with my bf. It was a hard choice given the positive US reviews on pretty much all 5 restaurants, but I settled on Harman's Cafe.
For a Saturday night around 7 it was not busy at all and only a few of the restaurant's 15ish tables were occupied. For Ethiopian food, which we had specifically come for, the menu was small and only offered a few choices.
We decided on one meat platter ($10.50) and one vegetarian platter ($10.50). We had no idea what we were going to get, and upon the platter arriving we still had no idea. Served on a large platter was a large piece of injera covered with 2 salads, 4 vegetable dishes, and 3 meat dishes. The salad had an oil/vinegar type dressing and was good and refreshing. One of the meat dishes was spicy, all of them super tender and flavorful. I would compare the style of a meal of the meat dishes to a stew. The only recognizable vegetarian dish was one of tender potatoes and cabbage. The meal came served with 2 extra injera, that were warm, spongy, and tasted like sourdough--soo good. They were perfect for ripping apart and picking up the dishes with (that's right, you do not get cutlery). The injera that all the food laid on was even better as it had soaked up sauces and spices galore. The only part I missed a fork for was the salad. It was difficult and awkward to eat with the bread, so I just used ended up using my fingers.
Overall, the food was excellent and well priced. For the $21 we paid, we were both stuffed, and had a huge container of leftovers, which the waitress said would taste even better, as the flavors would all meld into one another by the time we would eat it the next day.
There are no desserts and we decided to try the Ethiopian Coffee. For $1.50 we each got a small cup filled with a strong, but aromatic coffee. It was tasty and unique tasting.
Coming to Harman's Cafe has definitely given me a great first impression of Ethiopian food--that I cannot wait to try again.
My favorite Ethioian. I love Ethiopian food. I've only ever had the vegetarian dishes at any of the places in Winnipeg, but I found Harman's to be the best so far. It's flavourful and filling and all around fantastic. The atmosphere is average - nicer than some, not as nice as others, but I go there for the food ,which hasn't disappointed me yet.
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Show me some enthusiasm!. In comparison with Kokeb and Merkato, the other West End Ethopian restaurants, I'd say Harman's ranks almost even with Kokeb, and above Merkato. Harman's is a nice space painted in shades of lavender with fabulous picture beaded curtains. There were also several other diners including a family in the restaurant while were were there. It was nice not to the be the sole pair of customers.
The menu is fairly standard Ethopian, with the addition of breakfast. The hubs had kiye wat and I had the vegetarian platter. The injera was dark (and delicious) compared to what I've had in other Ethopian restaurants, so I wondered if it contained actual teff? The red lentil dish was spicy and well cooked, really great. One of the vegetarian dishes on the menu was described as having greens, and so I asked the server if I could get that included on my platter, and she said it was one of the vegetarian platter dishes, but no greens turned up in any of my four vegetarian platter dishes. We were also given a condiment plate, with some fresh tiny cheese curds, berbere spice, and a wickedly hot fresh green chile sauce. I tried only the teeniest dab of sauce and it set me ablaze. The cheese curds were interesting, but not compelling enough to eat more than a couple bites of. Samosas were not available because they turn the fryer off after lunch. The Ethopian coffee seemed to have hints of cardamom and ginger, but was really bitter. I greatly prefer Kokeb's coffee.
One problem, which I also encountered a while back at Merkato as well, was the seeming disinterest of the server/proprietress(?) I confess I like a little chatting up. I like the person who's waiting on me to act like she's happy to have my business, and not as if I'm just an inconvenience. For instance, I would have liked to ask whether the injera had teff in it, but the lady was so unapproachable that I chose not to ask. To that end, it might make sense to have someone a little more bubbly doing hostess/serving duties.
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Had a lot of fun!. After looking through the Entertainment book, I found a 2 for 1 coupon for Harman's and looked up the cafe on trusty Urbanspoon. With all the positive reviews, we decided to go by to try it out!
This was my first foray into the Ethiopian dining culture and I have to say it was a memorable first experience. When we first requested our chosen two dishes, the owner/server told us that part of the dish would be the same and suggested trying something else.
The time between when we ordered and the time we got our food couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes. Granted, we were one of the only two tables there, but still impressive. Especially when you consider how fresh everything was.
My only complaint was that we found 2 bones in our Tibs plate. Everything else was excellent.
When she brought out the plate - well, more like a serving platter as both dishes were just on one big plate - I suppose she saw both my husband and I take just a little too long, or maybe we had a strange expression going on but she asked if everything was ok. We responded yes, but we weren't quite sure how to go about eating everything as there very clearly wasn't cutlery. She laughed (good naturedly) and showed us how to dig in with our fingers and the incredibly fresh flat bread.
We had a great time eating like children in this place. Even my husband, who generally isn't a big fan of ethnic foods, really enjoyed himself at this restaurant. Although!! For those couples out there that can't agree on ethnic food for the night or not, Harman's also serves up a bunch of American options like club sandwiches (sandwich platters all under $8) burgers, onion rings and even breakfast options.
N.B. Since they're just a tiny place, they will close earlier than the posted times if, by chance, there is no one in the restaurant so don't go late on a slow day expecting them to still be open.
Certainly a great find and a lot of fun! Enjoy!
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Great find on Sargeant!. As soon as you walk through the door, your nose let's your stomach know it's in for a treat!
My wife had used Harman's as a catering option for one of her previous jobs, and we had always wanted to go back and try it. We have done that twice in the past 4 months know, and with the low prices, can definitely afford to make this a regular treat!
In our visits, we have tended to get the veggie combo plate, as well as a couple of the meat options. So far, my favorite has to be the Key Wat, which is a great spicy hit to go with the veggies. There has yet to be a misstep on the food, and I highly doubt that trend will change!
The injera is made daily, and is easily the best in the city. She also provides you with a small tray containing 3 dishes: a cheese - similar to a light feta, jalapeno paste, and berbere spice.
Harman's Café tends to be frequented by locals from the area, mostly of African descent, which is always an excellent sign when you're trying ethnic foods!
This is my favourite Ethiopian in the city: I avoided the food for a long time, after a terrible experience at Massawa (slow service will taint my dining experience EVERY TIME, no matter how good the food). Finding Harman's Café has made Ethiopian food an excellent choice for a night out once again!
Way above average. I'm a big ethiopian food fan, have frequented all of winnipeg's other ethiopian places, and Harman's is better than them all. The place is clean and bright, the service really friendly and prompt (our waitress even brought us an extra serving on the house!), and the food is fresh tasting and spectacular. The sambusas aren't on the menu for some reason, but if you ask they'll bring you some. You must try them, as they are among the best in the city - large, moist, spicy, and not oily!
It's an adventure all right.. Wow! If you're in the mood for something different, something adventurous, and something tasty, definitely check out Harman's! They have sandwiches, which are apparently huge and tasty (the lady who runs the place/ does the cooking worked at Harman's Pharmacy before it closed) but I would recommend the Ethiopian food, it's AMAZING! To try the most stuff, get a veggie combonation and a meat combonation, and if you love coffee, make sure to get some, but keep in mind she roasts to order, so let her know while you're eating that you want some afterwords. The tea is AWESOME, and I'm really wanting to come back for brekkie, there's traditional Ethiopian stuff, as well as regular breakfast. For sure check this place out, but be forwarned: you'll smell like spices for the rest of the night!
Hokey Dina!. This was my first Ethiopian cuisine experience and it was excellent. The service was friendly albeit a little frenzied, but once we ordered, our food was on our table in less than 15 minutes! It was extremely delicious everything had just the right amount of heat and if you want more spiciness you get a nice little side plate of condiments which includes the hot spice mix, and fresh cottage cheese to cool it down. For 3 people we ordered two veggie platters and one meat platter. It was more than enough food (we had about 3 lbs of left over's to take home) and the bill came out to only $30 before tax and tip. I will definitely be going back!
Went here for a quick lunch. I've been trying a few of the Ethiopian restaurants in the area. This is one of the better priced ones with very generous servings. There was a lot of meat.
I do have some tips though.
I found the meat kind of blended together. The vegetarian was better. My friend who goes all the time ordered the vegetarian and I could see why.
My recommendation would be to order a 3 meat and a vegetarian to share if there's 2. You can also do the meat and veggies combo for 2.
The only problem I found was there was no chicken. All the meat blended together and didn't have much of a unique texture (ours was 3/4 beef items and 1/4 lamb) she said you would have had to order the chicken separately. If chicken is your thing, skip the meat platter.
I included pictures of the menu, however she had a problem with the printing, so everything costs $1 more.
Parking can be found on the street.
Well this place was a gem to find. Staff - we came in with about 45 minutes to closing. That didn't stop them from serving us well and without making us feel like we were being rushed. Food - if you don't mind getting a little messy, don't ask for a fork and have fun! It seems as though most of their food is served traditionally as finger food, with a lovely sourdough bread to scoop up the rich flavours. I ate with my wife and Mom and they brought us a huge platter of the food we ordered (they asked first, if it was okay to combine). We had so much fun and the food was flavourful. We will eat here again.
What a hidden gem in Winnipeg. We ordered two plates of 2 meat, two veggie combos ($12 each) and the platter was served to us within 5 minutes!
As is the case in most North American restaurants, they use a combination of teff and wheat flour, so the injera flatbread is not gluten free. They offer rice as an alternative. No utensils are offered unless you ask - the idea is that you rip some injera off and use it to scoop the food off the platter.
The decor was tasteful and true to their culture. Nothing too cluttered but not stark either.
Very delicious and the server seemed genuinely interested to know if we enjoyed the meal. If you haven't had the experience yet you simply must go.
Vegetarian Combo is my favorite. Very cheap for a big portion. Place is nice and clean and owner is very friendly. Come here all the time! Definitely recommend 👍🏼
Unbelievably good. Tried it for the first time tonight, and it’s now hands down my favourite Ethiopian place in Winnipeg. The veggie combo was absolutely delicious, everything was so beautifully cooked and seasoned and the portions are so generous. Will be back often!
Amazing. Finally, a delicious spot for Ethiopian in the city!! If you haven't you should BC it's tasty and tasty is good!
My mouth still waters when I think about the meal I had there. Great vegan option with the vegetarian platter, incredibly delicious. The price is sooo good too for such generous portions, we both left STUFFED. The owner has a foundation to help children in Ethiopia so it is a great place to support. I can't wait to go back!
I am a regular customer here and I love the vegetarian combo they have. I have tried different well know Ethiopian restaurants which almost made me hate this type of food. But here the food was actually delicious. Also I love the fact that Desta (owner) uses the business to run a children's home in Ethiopia. I highly recommend this place if you like Ethiopian food!
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