Best Ethiopian place I’ve tried and I’ve tried many restaurants in Switzerland and South Africa. Zagol will always be my favourite
It was a unique, interesting experience having authentic Ethiopian food. We ordered the vegetarian option Beyayenet which can be shared by 3 people. The place is so small yet beautifully decorated. The coffee is very good and perfect with popcorn.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Amazing Food, we were satisfied with the taste of the food, the best thing liked was the Beef dry fry which was entirely different with the special spices, we ordered DRY TIBES, STRING OF TOP SIDE, AND Zagol Special which was mix of 3 platters for we 3 people, each around 40-45 AED, and we ordered Soft drinks as well, Only issue is the spacing inside, rest everything worth trying, will visit again soon :)
Some vegetable dishes i felt like it is the same Indian masalas and namesake can be said as African food, but the injera was like wheat dosha , but version with more sour yeast taste and softer than the wheat dosha. Salads and other vegetables were different in taste except few which tasted as Indian spices.
Staffs were super friendly, the main part is to sit around the big plate in circle and eat with the bare hands, which is usual for indians but still enjoyed, the amount of food is worth for the pay,overall loved it.
Overall 4.5/5
Staff 5/5 :)
Cleanliness 4.5/5
Taste 4.5/5
Ambience 4/5
Worth of money 5/5
Perfect Ethiopian experience!
Would be more happy if they reduced the pricing
Very unique place in dubai to try some Ethiopian cuisine.This is a small place to accomodate less than 20 people at a time.Staffs are really helpful and friendly.Cards are not allowed, u've pay by cash only.Don't forget to try their Coffee
Not the most photogenic cuisine ever but I tried Ethiopian food for the first time and it turned out to be nice and full of goodness chickpeas, lentils, beans, spinach, spicy potatoes and ---------- injera which is their dosa like bread--------.
Its actually a spread thali. The convenience of eating having everything in one bigggg plate was tastefully osummmm.
The taste was typical indian masala powedered into african namesake.
Its just like a bengal tiger visiting the african wildlife..
Smitten by my love for Ethiopia after my recent travel to addis. Upon my return back to dxb, searched for authentic Ethiopian restaurant. Was positively surprised by the vegetarian choices and price points of dishes. A proper scrumptious platter, cant get enough of that injira socked in spicy bean paste!
Amazing food!
Most of the things in the menu are delicious!
My personal favorite is the “ Shiro”- Highly recommended!
Loved the coffee here as well!
Staff is super friendly!
Unbelievable ambience, delicious food, the feel of the restaurant is so authentic and honestly one of the best restaurants in Dubai. A must-visit.
As you can see from the pictures below my friends and I devoured the sharing platter. We got the non veg and veg mix which had so many different choices of lentils and salad and meats. Each one of those items are so packed with flavor. Of course everyone's palette is different, so some people will like some items and not others. However is you are an open minded person who enjoys trying new things and exploring different flavors then this is honestly one of the highest recommended places for you.
It's very small so I suggest going on a weekday since there are literally 4-5 tables in the restaurant.
All the staff there are friendly and helpful to customers, like me, who had no idea what the names of the food meant and what was in what.
After the meal we had Ethiopian coffee, which is very different in flavor to Turkish coffee, but is very similar in texture and look.
In the heart of Al Karama lies this hidden gem. We ordered the Beyenatu with fish. That consisted of mix veg with a whole fish, which was adequate for two people. The flavors were really balanced and the injera (flat bread) was light and fluffy. There are two establishments which are across the street from one another. The original restaurant has more of an appeal than the one across the street. And they both lack any space. But for what they lack in space they really make it up in taste, service and affordable in price. Will recommend and come back
Food is tasty, amazing experience, friendly staff and lovely atmosphere.
The staff is very nice and thoughtful, for sure we will come back...
Captures the true essence of Ethiopia. Friendly staff, amazing Injera ( a little too pricey though, but why cant u charge if u have a unique offering?)
Ensure you share your Injera with someome, one portion definitely suffices two!
It's an awesome place with beautiful Ethiopian culture interior and followed by delicious food and very polite service. I recommend to visit this place with friends and family at least once
Nice cozy place serving authentic Ethiopian food. We tried the Vegetarian sharing dish Beyenet and a side dish of lamb. Food was served on Injera bread. Each dish is good for two people. Food was excellent and tasted very similar to Indian food
Order: Beyaynetu (veg/vegan)
A place I would most definitely come back to if i have a craving for Ethiopian food. The place is clean, it also didn't have a smell (considering the amount of spices being used in the food + the distance of the kitchen to the tables) and the staff was very polite; they smiled a lot.
Food: well seasoned! the Injera had the perfect amount of fluffyness and tart, and the portion wasn't small.
I didn't have an issue with the size of the place as we were only 2 people but i don't think it would be as comfortable with a big group (max 4 for 1 table) it is one small round table that fits just 1 platter. - best option is to takeaway!
The only negative thing i have to say is that the water costed 7AED which is more than the average.
The area is also very cute and inexpensive, filled with a lot of ethnic restaurants with veg/vegan options around. Must visit this hidden gem!
Excellent Veg , a favorite place. All Guests have been very thrilled with the lovely small n cozy place serving authentic Ethiopian Cusine in traditional way. 👍👍
Very small and cosy place, homely feeling , very polite and nice staff . Food feels very authentic, very reasonable price .Overall was a great experience.
A very different concept of restaurant. It was my first time to try Ethiopian cuisine. My friend brought me there and at first I was in doubt, whether or not im gonna like the food. First impression of the restaurant (tangible point of view) was excellent. I love the concept, also the decor, where they put grass on the floor. Staff friendliness was divine too. Comes the food, and it was huge portion. It is meant to be for sharing, however as we wanted to try different food, we ordered 2 types. Plenty of food left as we couldnt finish it. Definetely will bring more friend next time!
Amazing Ethiopian cuisine to explore at Zagol. Injera was fluffy and tasty. I ate Beyayenet with 10 different items on Injera with a recommendation from d lady at the counter. Beautiful combination with variation in texture and tasty of each item. I recommend everyone to try. I also find that most people who write reviews do not have a sense of taste. To eat Ethiopian food (or any cuisine), you need to wear their shoes and walk and not to judge it with a preconceived notion of how it should be (cooked rightly, half cooked etc can be mentioned). I liked my food and i will take my friends to taste at Zagol to explore the unknown.
I was visiting from US and being Ethiopian I wanted to try Ethiopian food. I picked zagol based on its good reviews. Even though it’s a small restaurant the food was big league. There was a little delay in service but I didn’t care after tasting the food. Must visit this hidden gem when in Dubai.
1st time eating here and it was spectacular!
Main:
1) Zagol Special (a spoonful of all items) - all items were very good.
2) String of Top Side (beef with onion, tomato, and fries) -mouth watering good!
Restaurant was very cute, small, and only a short taxi ride from ADCB metro station. Does take some time to get the food and eat it though, but it was part of the experience. Will definitely go back!!!
Every time I try a new cuisine I end up wanting to try everything. So we ordered the Zagol special which Is a platter of various sides, meat and vegetarian served with Injera bread.
The prices are very reasonable and the experience is so authentic. The server was helpful too.
Though what my neighbors ate at the time, that appeared to be some sort of a sizzler in a pot looked super delicious, so next time!
The land of coffee also has the best food ever. When you eat here you fill your tummy but can't satisfy your heart. it just wants more and more if it. the best ever ethiopian joint. made with live care and by the most beautiful people. where culture and tradition is maintained. love every bit of you Zagol.
Ethiopian Feast!
New culture explored,
Authentic Ethiopian cuisine.
Tried Zagol Spicial : Platter mixed with various vegetables, Dorowat (chicken stew),Cheese, potatos, and salad. Everything was placed over the Injera (Ethiopian traditional bread).
This is queit small restaurant but its ambience is very Ethiopian, which changes all the dining experience.
It was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine and I am in love with it 😍 A simple, yet beautiful concept of serving the traditional food. The quantity was really good for the price offered.
The staff who were a group of ladies, are so warm and friendly which totally made the whole experience more memorable. The place is small, but I loved the decor and the background music. We were recommended to try the zagol special (small servings of diff non veg item with injera ) Injera is like dosa. It is a little sour but goes well the food. Would love to try the tradional coffee with popcorn (very interesting combination !) A true hidden gem in dubai.
Note - You can find it next to raju omellete in karama.
Zagol has been my first experience with Etiophian food. Great service, lots of variety. We went for a vegetarian platter for 3 (figured we'd have room for a meat dish after.) Spoiler alert: we didn't! Super filling, great prices.
Injera is mildly reminiscent of dosa; it's a fermented dough flat bread. The accompanying dishes were an assortment of dips and vegetables. Some were spicy, some mild, all were delicious.
I'm definitely coming back here to try more dishes.
I always crave and look for something new to try and am always open to explore , Zagol was in my list for so long and I finally had the chance to go and I can honestly say it was something different in a good way of course , it was a great experience trying Ethiopian food for the first time .
The place is a cozy and small , the staff are very friendly , and the food was really nice . If you as well like trying new things then Zagol is a must to have in your LIST .
Food(4/5)
Service(4.5/5)
Ambiance(4/5)
————————————————ORDERS————————————————
-Zagol Special(4/5)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The food is unique. Trying Ethiopian for the first time! Absolutely love the inchera bread and string of top side beef curry. Will definitely be back for more. It’s a 5/5 from me. I love the fact that it’s served in one big plate. It’s a meal to share with loved ones.
A very tiny place filled with love and positivity of the staff..being run by women, was so intrigued to try ethiopian cuisine for the first time and didnt regret a single second trying out several dishes at once.
We tried the veg platter which consists of different lentils and veg curries plus a dish called doro wet chicken with boiled egg curry and beef curry accompanied with brown or white injera (traditional ethiopian flatbread made with sourdough).
Every dish had its own exceptional taste with different spices.
Would definitely come here again without a doubt.
My first try in a Ethiopian restaurant and I really loved it . Cute little place buzzing during lunch hours . Not knowing much about what I should have I tried the zagol special which has spoonful of varieties of days special served on a flat bread inchera. The portion was pretty good and loved most of the dishes , not to forget inchera which itself was excellent . Service was good and reasonable pricing .
I absolutely love this tiny cosy restaurant, I go there as much as possible. The food is simple and very tasty, vegan friendly. The freshly brewed coffee served with popcorn is to die for!
Ambience ✅✅✅✅
Food. ✅✅✅✅
Valie for Money ✅✅✅✅✅
Staff ✅✅
Service ✅✅✅
Zagol is at the centre of Kahrama offering great ethiopian food with reasonable price and huge portions .
Tiny hidden gem located in Karama. Visited for lunch solo & selected the Zagol special, which is a tasting menu of all the dishes for that day. A spoonful of each was served on a large tray covered with injera (sourdough flatbread). Every single dish was delicious,& I honestly enjoyed every single bite.
The food is prepare by an all ladies cooking team, in a small home style kitchen.
Highly recommended!
Yoshaan Derik Fernandez
+4.5
The first time i came here and tried authentic etheopian food, it blew my tadte buds away and happy to have experienced a new food culture that didnt disapoint at all.
Its a small restraunt ran by a group of ladies who are really pilite and nice and you can genuinly taste the love the food is cooked with. This is now my 5th time eating here and it just grts better and better as they remain true to their cuisine.
Highhly recomended as the food and ambience is superb.
I have tried Ethiopian food 2-3 times in past by visiting the restaurant in Deira and once near Sana signal before.... However just felt having it again today. When I browsed through, found Zagol on zomato and reviews..... And decided to order home delivery knowing karama traffic Thursday night. To my surprise the platter ( I ordered a whole veg platter which has all the dishes they prepare with the famous injara bread) was no neatly packed and perfect quantity.... Thanks to the ladies to maintain quality and deliver so nicely. Each dish had balanced flavours and the super hit was Shiro. Would have given 5 but delivery was late so 4.5 😀
Super duper delicious! A bit similar to Indian food but more rich and with more flavours and very soft bread. Worth every penny
Better to come with someone cos the portion size is very big
Zagol is famous for their Ethiopian themed settings and dress code worn by the waitresses. Their food is scrumptious, and serve sizzling dishes into our plate. We ordered variety of tibes. It was a beautiful experience.
Note: if you are visiting during weekend, be prepared to wait for your table as it get crowded easily. Last time, we waited outside for at least 20 minutes before we got a place.
Zagol is located in the heart of Karama, the food was absolutely delicious, the waitress was very polite and pretty :) The kitchen is run by ladies and you can see the cooked with love, The injraa was soft,moist and unlimited, I ordered a type of mixrd platter so I could taste everything in the kitchen.Am absolute delight.easy on the pocket, will go back again.
Highly recommended! One of my top favorite places in Dubai, Lovely ambience, lovely hosting, lovely food!
And dont forget the coffee is awesome too!
Ethiopia all the way!!
Hello! I've written a blog about this restaurant. Loved the place!
http://letstrythistoo.blogspot.in/2016/01/level-one-ethiopia-karama-dubai.html?m=1
My favorite Habasha restaurant by far! I keep coming back :)
Try the tibes ferfer for newbies :) And the coffee with pop cord - interesting combo :)
My Daily Food Plate (Duane)
+4
It was a spur of the moment decision to visit this place. The restaurant is set up in a complete Ethiopian style with seating and decor. It's a small place with a seating capacity of about 15 but the food is really good and serves Ethiopian food (obviously).
We had the Zagol special where you get to taste multiple dishes. It's quite filling though. We wanted to try the Tibes but we were full as we had a small snack before going.
I plan to visit this place again to try other dishes.
Ambience 3/5
Food 4/5
Value for money 4/5
Love this little restaurant - definitely a hidden gem in Dubai - if you haven't already you should give it a try. Authentic Ethiopian food combined with lovely service. We're going there almost once per week!
Genuinely Ethiopian interior makes us feel like we are in Ethiopian. The Ethiopian coffee tasted here was exactly tasted like the one that we can have in Addis Ababa.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
This was our first attempt at Ethiopian food, and it was actually very good. Cannot comment on the restaurant, as we ordered home delivery. The delivery was very well packed, arrived on time as promised, and the lady on the phone helped us out in deciding what to order. Will try and get to the actual place, since we did like food.
We ordered Tibes - lamb cooked with chili powder, tomato, onion, garlic and home made spices. There is a beef version as well. This was a tangy dish, a bit sour to the taste (like lemony), and was a really nice stew like dish. The spice, or pepper powder, and butter are key ingredients to the dish because they are unique to the Ethiopian cuisine. Tasted absolutely home made.
Served with Injara - sourdough-risen, crepe-like flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. Traditionally made out of fermented teff flour, it is a national dish in Ethiopia. It is gluten free, and made from a whole grain flour that is indigenous to Ethiopia. It is slightly sweet, slightly sour, and totally different from a regular flatbread. Looked and tasted a bit like the South Indian appam. Zagol gave us a generous quantity of this bread to help mop up and accompany our mains.
We had Doro Wat (says Wet on the menu) was a chicken and boiled egg dish in a rich red tomato based gravy cooked with traditional spices, onion, garlic and ginger. Apparently it is the national dish of Ethiopia, and is a slow-cooked dish. This was superbly textured, very tender chicken dish – and very rich and spicy – but without being overwhelming. Looked amazing with the boiled egg floating on top! Loved this.
We also ordered Yetsom Mesa B Mesob - a vegetarian stew combining beans powder cooked in sauces with lentil and other mixed vegetables. This was a really interesting vegetarian dish that did well to accompany the lamb and chicken dishes. The side servings of sauces were really interesting, and a refreshing change from the usual. Overall, you could tell that the dished were prepared with care and each one was unique and flavorful. And, probably, like what home made food in Ethiopia tastes like.
Overall, we really enjoyed the experience. For those who've never tried the interesting, quite different, and flavorful food from Ethiopia, do give Zagol a try.
Probably offers the best value for money of any restaurant in town. The food is always fresh and tasty, the decor is funky, and a single order lets you try many things. I have tried a number of their competitors and this place stands out.
Service: 3
Food quality / taste: 3.5
Value for money: 3
Ambiance: 3.5
Menu Variety: 3
Would I like to visit this place again: Yes
This place is for some serious authentic Ethiopian food. Its a nice little cozy place that could seat 10 people at the most and has a warm feel to it as it has low seating and has some Ethiopian decor.
We ordered for #Chchebsa which is an Ethiopian bread that is tossed in spices and butter, we also ordered a mutton dish (dont recollect the name) that had a dark colored gravy which bursts of spiciness, tangy and had some succulent pieces of meant in it.
Will be visiting the place soon again.
I love love love Zagol! I visited with my husband and friend and tried a number of vegetarian dishes and their lamb tebes which were served with a fresh green salad and injera, a pancake like bread made from teff.
I have had Ethiopian food in the US and I must admit I wasn't very taken with it as the spices were on the acidic side - at Zagol this wasn't the case at all, the food was very tasty and well cooked. This may be because the majority of the staff and cooks are women ;)
We ended our meal with amazing coffee that was so smooth and heavenly. Interestingly it was served with a side of popcorn, an unlikely combination that seems to work!
Though the place is tiny it is very kitsch! The walls are decorated with traditional Ethiopian baskets and customes and the fresh grass is strewn on the floor:)
The cost for the 3 of us stood at an amazing AED 87 🤗🤗 will visit again for sure.
Zagol was my first time having Ethiopian food and I am now completely obsessed! We had a mix of the vegetarian and non vegetarian options and it was all delicious and so full of flavor! Will be back again very soon.
The food was delicious, much better than the several Ethiopian restaurants we have eaten at in the US. We got the veggie/lentil platter for 3 people. The variety of food, besides the injera bread, was superb -- beets, carrots, green beans, cabbage, salad, yellow lentils, red lentils, potatoes, etc. The taste was great -- spicy when called for, and not spicy when not called for. Highly recommend!
Tried Ethiopian cuisine here for the first time and boy was it goood. Loved the ambience, loved the food, loved their service. I tried 'Zagol Special' which was really good. Although there was something else i ordered that was served like sizzler (it was beef) which I didnt really like though. Cant remember the name of that dish. And then had some Ethiopian coffee which was really good.
I like the ambiance inside though it can be a bit cramped for 4 people at a table. There are also maybe 4 to 5 tables maximum.
I generally order the platter that comes with a sample of most of the menu items. If there are four people we order two of them. I can never really remember which one I like the most I just eat them all, the salads and the meat sauces.
The food is generally eaten by tearing off a piece of the spongy bread (injera) and pinching some meaty sauce or one of the salads. There is a nice sink for washing your hands before and after.
I guess if anything I would compare it to "Indian" food as it is very flavorful from spices ( though not generally chilies but once we did have them throw some chilies in one of the dishes).
I would also recommend ordering the coffee - it comes out with a bit of fanfare.
Note there is no toilet in the dining area - not sure where the closest one is.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
What we went for: lunch on a Friday afternoon to introduce one of the not so well known wonders of the food world- abyssinian aka Ethiopian cuisine to one of our colleagues
Ambience: You feel you have entered an Ethiopian home on an Indian street:).
jabenas(coffee pots), safed( wooden basket to serve injera), mudai ( basket to store like trinkets), habesha( traditional attire) adorn the bright orange pink walls. 5-7 mesobs( traditional tables) can fit the snug little restaurant. Service is polite and bordering on shy as far as non-Ethiopian customers are concerned.
What we ordered: mahaberawi( assortment of stews and vegetables with injera) a great introduction for the newbies, tibs ( grilled meat) and shiro ( chick pea stew) and to finish it all off- coffee and popcorn
Price: very reasonable at aed 135 for 3
Verdict: for the uninitiated, you are on a journey of discovering a wondrous cuisine.
Injera- the slightly tangy spongy rolled pancake made up of super cereal Teff is used to mop up the stews- shiro, doro wat, stir fried vegetables like gomen(spinach), cabbage and beans and the highlight and my favorite- tibs( grilled meat)and kitfo( minced meat). The sauces and seasonings- mustard, mitmitA and awaze add a thousand incredible sensations.
There is no place for cutlery or shyness. So get ready to dig in and eat what you like from the communal platter.
For those who are well acquainted with Ethiopian food, Zagol does justice and also makes it a complete cultural experience.
The coffee ritual - the freshly brewed coffee that is brought to your mesob enveloped in frankincense smoke is just what you need to wake you up from the food induced stupor:).
Would I go back? This is my 5th visit and when I crave gluten free comfort food which could be every other month.. I will be back..
Don’t let the cramped interiors or small tables deter you from entering this restaurant. Like most Ethiopian restaurants, the food is served on a communal layer of injera (traditional bread). And it hands down the best Ethiopian food we’ve had in Dubai.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Not knowing at all what to expect, we stepped into Zagol and immediately had a smile stuck to our faces. Although, from the outside, it does not give you a lot of high hopes. But step inside to a warm, cozy restaurant with straw hats hanging all over the pink walls. Went there for the usual #ZomatoTuesdays dinner.
They had mini straw stools to sit on and a woven straw table in the centre with a straw hat placed on top of it (The most cultural setup in any restaurant that I have been to in Dubai so far). You would be confused on how all your dishes would fit on the small table in front of you.. but worry not! Unless you have experience Ethiopian food prior to your visit or know a few dishes here and there, just order the Telak Erat b Mesob, which is something like the greatest hits of Ethiopian cuisine. One dish to fit them all (the tables that is :P)
Centred more around lamb and mutton than chicken, the food had a very unique taste to it. A lot of mutton and lamb gravy, bread made of rice flour (something similar to Indian dosas), shredded cottage cheese, salad, egg curry and a lot of other things that tasted nice, but had no idea of what it exactly was.
Minus points for staff not really being able to explain what each dish meant and for the looks we got from the Ethiopian people in the restaurant, wondering if we were lost :(
Unfortunately, a small insect flew into the plate. But fortunately by then, we were all done with the meal. (Doesn't affect my overall rating of the visit). Average meal cost of 40 per person, it was truly a value for money experience seeing that we all ate our hearts out (3 out of 4 did, one guy was too weirded out with the place from the start).
Even though the place is small, the atmosphere makes it unique. In terms of what to order we really enjoy the zagol special with shiro -- the combination is absolutely amazing!
We went there to try the Ethiopian food for the first time. This place is small and not a lot of space. On first look we were like do we really want to go here? But once we entered, we were hit by the Ethiopian ambience. They had vegetarian options for us. The food was served as per Ethiopian custom of eating from one plate. It was amazing experience. Will definitely there again..!!
This was my first shot at Ethiopian cuisine, so I really don't have any standard to compare this to. However, it is to be noted the ambience is very Ethiopian, with their seating styles, tables and how food is served. The food was very nice and I am happy to say this experiment worked for the better.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
We love exploring new places and in the pursuit of discovering a new cuisine today, we stumbled upon Zaghol. A tiny restaurant in the by lanes of Karama (new to Raju Omelette), easily missable unless you've heard of it. The interior is very simple and rustic, depicting a small scene from an Ethiopian home. Low benches and a cane Center table with a round hard too meant for placing a large sharing plate. We were greeted by our lovely hostess who sat us down and brought us the menu. A lot of the dishes cater to vegetarians/ vegans which is a plus. We ordered Beyayenet which is a trio combo of spicy lentils cooked to perfection and served on soft and fluffy injera bread and also Lamb Tibes which is stir fry lamb mixed with spices, onions and tomatoes. It was served on a sharing plate which also came with Minced meat in a spicy sauce, Assorted veggies and yams stir fried and a small green salad. The food was very different from what we've eaten so far and the first few bites were all about savouring the flavours and dissecting the ingredients. The food was definitely flavourful, balanced and delicious. Injera is made of a nutritious grain called teff and cooked similar to dosas (fermented pancakes). We will definitely go back again after reading up a bit more about the different dishes, as informed customers.
Amanda Bout Fernandes
+3.5
First time to try Ethiopian in dubai, I was apprehensive for a while since the resturant is tiny and you could miss it if you drive too fast on the lane. I had a good reference from a few years ago in Chicago. The zagol special did not disappoint
The flavor slightly tangy with the right amount of spice.the beef sizzler dish was delicious too. The ambience seems very authentic and really laid back which we enjoyed on a Friday night.
It's my first time to try Ethiopian food and it's worth giving a try. I love what we ordered here in Zagol. Tebes + injera was surprisingly good. Their place is small but cozy. I will surely come back and bring some friends. Price is GREAT and their serving is for sharing. :)
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Some of the best places could be found in unusual locations and Zagol is a prime example of it. Tucked behind Park Regis Hotel in Karama area, this place is something what any average diner would give a miss due to small area where seating can be an issue. If one were to look beyond these minor fallacies, look directly at the food. This place has managed to retain the authenticity of Ethiopian ambience through the decor; television playing channels from Ethiopia and Ethiopian staff at the helm of the kitchen.
I have never sampled Ethiopian food before but, before visiting this place, I read through the possible dishes one could find in this cuisine; the preparation done and the spices used and, I must say, it has truly matched my expectations. The injera (teff flatbread), on which succulent meat / chicken / vegetable dishes are placed, is delicious when combined. The quantity is quite good for one person (although I found it quite heavy) and the prices are reasonable for the place and quantity (it would cost an average of AED 30 for a good meal).
To many, Ethiopian cuisine is an unusual fare but this is worth the try not just for a different experience but to sample the goodness, which satisfies both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
P.S.: Unless one is spice intolerant, they should share their dish with their friend / family.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
We were introduced to Ethiopian cooking at one of the acknowledged top Ethiopian eateries of London called "Addis" which till date has been a delightful experience. Now Addis meets zagolo , as far as we are concerned. The seating is similar , the injeera identical in taste , texture and and the wot and tibe's almost the same.
Wot is very much texture of "qorma" and tibe has the texture of a "Kat-a-kat" except drier. The menu at zagol , supposedly in Ethiopian and English would be difficult to decypher by English speakers so either just order their speciality platter which has small bits of everything or decide you want vegetarian, non-veg. , dry or with gravy and if non-veg decide on your dish including. (meat: white , red , sea/land) as a tibe or as a wot , spicy (with chillies, red and/or green or otherwise) and really different Ethiopian spices.
It is a very small place with a large take away / home delivery service, the kitchen very visible immediately on entry through the single shutter width door of zagol and the 3 cooks you see in the kitchen behind the clear plate glass window. It has passed the municipality health checks so don't worry about what you see. Concentrating on the food, when it comes, is important as you will be hungry by then so eating your food with your han, and 'sharing' with everyone in your party around the "thal" digging in the injeera roll , taking a piece and scooping up the selected meat soaked in the spices (tibe or wot).
The soaked up injeera has its own taste easily acquired and appreciated. Surely the dishes of lamb wot and beef tibe and the misr shiru were a dish too much for two of us . Prices will surprise you. Be prepared, you are ready for paying a more than fair price for what you just finished.
The Ethiopian food is one of my favorites. This place is the real deal, with real Ethiopians taking care of the clients. The food and the flavours are amazing. The only con is that the place is too small. The rest just thumbs up!
2nd time here and loving it! staff is amazing too
Went there with the friends of mine. Good atmosphere authentic decor. Lively food. Prices are ok. 25-35 for a meal. Will definitely go back !
Staff 5 stars, smiling, explaining what is what - recommending.
I feel like Zagol is one of those hidden gems. We ordered 2 specials. One vegetarian and one non-veg which came on one big serving dish. The idea is to eat by hand and share from one dish. I wasn't sure what to expect but i love trying different cuisines. The food is actually really flavorful! I definitely preferred the vegetarian options which consisted of lentils cooked 3 ways, cabbage, potatoes, spinach, beetroot, salad and green beans. The food is served in small portions on traditional Ethiopian bread called Injera. I'm not sure what Ethiopian food is supposed to taste like but everything did have a hit of lemon which i absolutely loved.
If you're into exploring and trying different cuisines, add Zagol to your list! Its definitely a must try even if its just once. Not only is the food an experience, the setting and ambiance makes you feel like you jumped straight into Africa.
Very quaint little restaurant. Popular with Ethiopians. First time having Ethiopian cuisine, but it was very tasty. Loved the injera - sourish bread. Helpful staff and was clean.
Zagol a quaint little Ethiopian resturant in Karama. Honestly if you blink you could miss this place. My friends and I were fortunate enough to stumble upon it as we were looking for a bite to eat. We arrived and were greeted very warmly by Ethiopian ladies in their traditional attire.
Wanted to try some new cuisine so we headed to Zagol which is very easy to spot in Karama…
Zagol definitely give you feel of Africa :D
We had ordered chicken gravy dish (as not a beef lover) which was served by Injera – a sour risen flatbread very similar to Dosa. The gravy tastes great and also presentation was quite good…
I just loved the Ambience with vibrant colors around and even seating arrangement was good (large group may find it difficult to accommodate).
Service was good!
Would definitely give a try again! Cheers!
This little cozy place is an absolute hidden gem in karama, offering Ethiopian food, with very cute African setting and food presentation , although it's a very basic place but it just send positive vibes full time.
I've got to try their vegetarian option as well as chicken and beef dishes.
The chicken was in a gravy and at first bite I felt it's little spicy but tasted very good, beef was ok too, and their vegetarian option was 4 dishes mostly made of beans with some salad and pickles at the side, that surprisingly I liked it way more than meat options.
They serve all the food with a crape kinda bread that tasted little sour and it's made of some Ethiopian seed.
I really liked the place , recommend it to everyone to give it a chance, and would like to go back for their vegetarian option.
This was a very good and interesting experience if like me you are / were totally ignorant of Ethiopian food. Tasty and cooked to order, everything served on "bread" made from the teff grain which looked a lot like proper Breton buckwheat crepes (which I believe is gluten-free) and all shared from one huge plate. We ordered a tasting plate which was a small portion of every dish offered which was good - some mildly spicy, all quite interesting. To be honest I can't judge the dishes much for authenticity but it all tasted good! The sole waitress was friendly and helpful and had a lovely smile!next time I will order one of the grilled meats to try.
After hearing so much about this place finally tried it and was surely an experience.
An unusual restaurant set up more like a eating at home all from one large plate. From the crockery to the servers everything was Ethiopian and that's the true charm if this small place located near Raju omelette in Karama.
They had a lot of beef dishes since I don't eat beef I tried the chicken gravy and the roasted fish (actually fried) which were the other remaining options in non vegetarian. Both the dishes were served on the Ethiopian bread with some lentils and salad.
I may or may not go back but must try just experience sake.
Its just another tiny little thing somewhere in karama that you would just pass by and probably not notice, but its featured on zomato's hidden gems for a reason! ;) Get one of the favorites like 'Tibs' or 'Doro Wot' or if your really adventurous - the ethiopian style fish; everything's a winner!
You go there for the experience, the food and the warm homely atmosphere. being a vegetarian, my options were limited, but none the less I thoroughly enjoyed what ever little i could eat. In true Ethiopian style, everyone sits together and eats out of one plate! it takes a while for the food to come in, once you have placed the order. but that is because everythng is made fresh.
Again, being a vegetarian i dont think I could go there often, but for non vegetarians, this place is a complete treat.
Also, be prepared to wait for a table. its a very tiny place with just about 4 tables.
We went for a family dinner . Food was superb , totally new experience with their orthodox way of sharing food on a big plate for all of us . We had great time . !!
I visited Zagol with my work friends, it was my first taste of Ethiopian food so I didn't quite know what to expect.
The restaurant itself is cosy with traditional items from Ethiopia on the walls adding interest, traditional stools and tables add to the dining experience.
We ordered the Zagol special and Tibis which was really good, it was tough eating with hands as I had no technique to grab the food with the bread 😁 (something I will have to go back to master!) but I was aided by my friend from Ethiopia ! The dish was spicy and full of flavour.
The food is freshly prepared and takes a while to cook so we will probably preorder before revisiting.
I didn't get to try the coffee as was limited on time but would like to try next time.
Overall it was a little snippet of Ethiopia in Dubai and i'd recommend it for the experience/food.
The most amazing food you will ever have is at Zagol! Friendly environment Ethiopian food is just excellent.... the Traditional way of serving food keeps it very much alive. I am Indian but we met few Ethiopian People and they were sooo much nice with us. Everything that we had was just excellent. The traditional Coffee with some *fentasha* popcorns I learnt that word from them lol! OVERALL IT IS JUST AMAZING MUST VISIT!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
I have 78 bookmarked restaurants on Zomato and when my friend got here on holiday, I asked her to pick any one out of the 78, after a series of selection processes we decided on Zagol.
The restaurant has one of the most authentic interiors in Dubai without overdoing it. The floors are covered in palm leaves, the walls showcase African art.
The tiny place with its crowded seating arrangement doesn't really hinder the experience, in fact it enriches it. The two lovely ladies seated next to us, guided us through the menu and advised us what we should order. We ended up picking up the Zagol special, which was sort off a sampler of all they had to offer.
We got the Zagol special, here's where it get's weird. The flavours were so similar to what my Mangalorean mom makes at home. It's interesting how the traditional cuisine of two places divided by an entire ocean could have such similar tastes.
Anyway, the food arrived, it was a huge plate covered in a flat bread called Injera,
it was soft and much like a dosa. It didn't have much of a taste, just a slight sweetness to it which was perfect to dip in the variety of sauces and stews served on top of it.
The flavours of the stews and sauces were strong but mildly spicy. There were four sauces in different shades of red. It had the sweetness of caramelized onions and the tang of ginger, garlic. One of them contained a boiled egg, one had meat in it.
Next we had two meat stir fries, one mixed with spinach and one with potato. The one with spinach tasted like the meat curry with spinach that mum makes and I really dislike. The potato and the meat tasted amazing.
There was also a cabbage stew, again something my mum makes regularly and I skip out on regularly. But I had the one at the restaurant cause I couldn't get over how it tasted just like my mums.
Halfway through the meal, the waitress brought us some fresh bread which tasted great when dipped in the sauces.
Another things I loved was that even though the restaurant was packed and the place so small, the place wasn't loud, though the conversations were steady it was a relaxed atmosphere.
We spent a total of FORTY ONE DHS for a fulfilling meal, good service and a really pleasant atmosphere.
يقع مطعم بنجارونج benjarong في شارع الشيخ زايد، وبالتحديد في فندق دوسيت ثاني، ويقع في الطابق 24 وبإطلاله بانوراميه على الداون تاون وبرج خليفة وشارع الشيخ زايد ...
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ويقدّم هذا المطعم قائمة غنية بالنكهات التايلاندية التقليدية واللذيذه والتي تعود إلى قرون مضت ... ويستوحي المطعم تصميمه الداخلي من قاعات تناول الطعام الملكية العائدة للملك راما الرابع ...
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الاجواء العامه رائعه ... والاكل لذيذ ... الموظفين ودودين ... والخدمه ممتازه ... ومكان مناسب للعائلات ... -
مطعم benjarong دبي
مطعم تايلندي حاصل على افضل مطعم تايلندي في عام 2021 في دبي 👌🏻
يتميز بإطلاله بانوراميه على الداون تاون وبرج خليفة
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رائع جدا يستحق التجربة و سعرهم معقول
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