An Ethiopian meal comes on one great round tray, covered with a spongy, grey-brown pancake. Stews and vegetables are spooned on top in bright heaps, more rolls of the same bread sit on the side, and there is no cutlery. You tear, you scoop, you share.
Injera is Ethiopia’s staple: a soft, spongy, slightly sour flatbread made from fermented teff flour. It is both plate and spoon, served under and alongside stews (wat), sautéed meat (tibs) and vegetable dishes. In Addis Ababa you eat it everywhere, from simple local restaurants to cultural restaurants with music and dance. Pork is rarely eaten in Ethiopia, and the country has a large Muslim population, so halal meat is easy to find, especially at Muslim-run restaurants. Prices change quickly; in 2026 a platter typically costs a few hundred birr.
This guide covers how injera is made, the dishes to order, how to eat with your hands, fasting food, where to go, halal points and a few Amharic words.
How injera is made
Teff, a tiny grain grown in the Ethiopian highlands, is ground into flour, mixed with water and left to ferment for two or three days. The sour batter is poured onto a large round clay griddle (mitad) and steamed under a lid, not flipped.
The bubbles that form on top give injera its spongy texture, perfect for soaking up sauce.
What to order with it
| Dish | What it is | Halal check |
|---|---|---|
| Doro wat | Chicken stewed slowly in berbere spice and onions, with boiled eggs | Halal at Muslim-run restaurants |
| Tibs | Pieces of beef or lamb sautéed with onion, chilli and rosemary | Halal at Muslim-run restaurants |
| Kitfo | Minced raw beef with spiced butter; can be ordered lightly cooked (leb leb) | Ask for halal meat; raw meat is a food-safety choice |
| Shiro | Smooth, spiced chickpea stew | Vegan; fine |
| Misir wat | Red lentils in berbere | Vegan; fine |
| Gomen | Braised collard greens | Vegan; fine |
| Beyaynetu | A mixed platter of several vegan dishes on injera | Vegan; fine |
Fasting food: vegan by tradition
Many Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast on Wednesdays and Fridays and during long fasting seasons, eating no animal products. As a result, vegan dishes (ye-tsom food) are available almost everywhere, and beyaynetu is one of the best meals in the country.
How to eat with injera
- Wash your hands; restaurants often bring water to the table.
- Use your right hand only.
- Tear a piece of injera, wrap it around some stew, pinch and eat.
- Eat from the part of the tray in front of you.
- Save the injera underneath for last: it has soaked up all the sauce.
If a friend feeds you a mouthful by hand, that is gursha, a gesture of respect and affection. Accept it with a smile.
Halal note: Ethiopians of all faiths generally avoid pork, and a large share of the population is Muslim. Meat is often slaughtered by either Christian or Muslim butchers, so ask for Muslim-slaughtered meat or eat at Muslim-run restaurants, common in areas such as Merkato. Vegan fasting dishes are a safe choice anywhere. Avoid tej, a honey wine often served at cultural restaurants. See our halal food travel guide.
Where to eat in Addis Ababa
- Local restaurants – simple places serving tibs, shiro and beyaynetu at lunchtime.
- Cultural restaurants – evening meals with traditional music and dancing; lively, touristy and fun.
- Merkato area – one of Africa’s biggest markets, with many Muslim-run eateries nearby.
- Coffee houses – finish with a coffee ceremony; see our Ethiopian coffee ceremony guide.
What it costs (2026)
Ethiopian prices have changed quickly in recent years, so treat these as rough guides.
| Order | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Beyaynetu or shiro at a local restaurant | A few hundred birr |
| Tibs or doro wat | Usually more than vegan dishes |
| Cultural restaurant dinner | Higher, often with a show |
Plan your trip with the Ethiopia food budget calculator.
Amharic words
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Injera | The flatbread |
| Ye-Muslim siga new? | Is the meat Muslim-slaughtered? |
| Ye-tsom | Fasting (vegan) food |
| Beyaynetu | Mixed vegan platter |
| Leb leb | Lightly cooked (for kitfo) |
| Ameseginalehu | Thank you |
Frequently asked questions
What is injera made of?
Fermented teff flour and water, cooked on a clay griddle.
Is Ethiopian food halal?
Pork is rarely eaten, and halal meat is easy to find at Muslim-run restaurants. Vegan fasting dishes are always a safe choice.
How do you eat injera?
With your right hand: tear a piece, wrap it around the stew and eat.
Is injera gluten-free?
Pure teff injera is, but some injera is mixed with wheat or barley. Ask.
More African food guides: koshari in Cairo and tagine in Casablanca. See all Africa food guides.
Sources
- Injera and Ethiopian cuisine.
