Ethiopian food in Toronto: Little Ethiopia and how to order

Ethiopian and Eritrean food is one of the most rewarding cuisines to eat in Toronto, and one of the most social. Meals are shared from a single large platter, eaten with your hands using injera, a soft, spongy flatbread, and they are full of complex spice blends and slow-cooked stews. The city has a cluster of Ethiopian restaurants on the Danforth, often called Little Ethiopia, plus more across the city.

Where is Little Ethiopia in Toronto?

Little Ethiopia is a short stretch of Danforth Avenue in the east end, roughly between Greenwood Avenue and Monarch Park Avenue, just east of Greektown. Greenwood station on Line 2 is the nearest subway stop. A handful of Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants, cafés and shops sit along it, some of them open since the early 2000s. Ethiopian restaurants are also found in other parts of the city, including along Bloor Street West and in the suburbs.

What is injera?

Injera is a large, round, slightly sour flatbread made from a batter that ferments for days. Traditionally it is made with teff, a tiny grain native to Ethiopia, though many restaurants outside Ethiopia blend teff with other flours. It is soft and spongy, with small holes on top that soak up sauce. Injera is both the plate and the cutlery: stews are served on top of a large piece, and you tear off smaller rolled pieces to scoop up the food.

How do you eat at an Ethiopian restaurant?

1. Order to share, usually a combination platter for the table.
2. Wash your hands; you will eat with them.
3. Use your right hand to tear a piece of injera and pinch up some food.
4. Eat from the area in front of you on the shared platter.
5. Eat the injera underneath at the end, where it has soaked up the sauces.

If you are not comfortable eating with your hands, most restaurants will happily bring cutlery.

What should you order at an Ethiopian restaurant?

Dish	What it is
Beyaynetu	A vegetarian combination platter of several stews and salads
Doro wat	Chicken stewed in spicy berbere sauce with a hard-boiled egg
Misir wat	Red lentils in berbere, spicy and rich
Shiro	A smooth, comforting stew of ground chickpeas or peas
Tibs	Sautéed beef or lamb with onions and peppers
Kitfo	Finely minced beef with spiced butter, served raw or lightly cooked
Gomen	Collard greens with garlic and ginger

Berbere is the key spice blend, built on chili and many warm spices. Ask for milder options if you prefer less heat.

Is Ethiopian food good for vegetarians and vegans?

It is one of the best cuisines for both. Many Ethiopian Orthodox Christians fast from animal products on many days of the year, so there is a long tradition of vegan dishes built on lentils, split peas, chickpeas, greens and vegetables. A vegetarian combination platter is often the best value on the menu. Ask whether the vegetarian dishes are cooked with butter (niter kibbeh, a spiced clarified butter) if you are vegan.

Is injera gluten-free?

Pure teff injera is naturally gluten-free, but many restaurants in Canada blend teff with wheat or barley flour, so do not assume. Ask the restaurant what is in its injera, and whether it can provide a fully teff version if you have celiac disease.

What is an Ethiopian coffee ceremony?

Coffee has deep roots in Ethiopia, and the coffee ceremony is a ritual of roasting green beans, grinding them and brewing them in a clay pot called a jebena, served in small cups, often with incense. Some Toronto restaurants and cafés offer traditional coffee after a meal. It is worth staying for.

Is Ethiopian food spicy?

Some dishes are, especially those cooked with berbere, but not all. Dishes labelled alicha, such as alicha wat or yellow split pea stews, are mild and turmeric-based, and many vegetable dishes are gentle. A combination platter usually mixes hot and mild dishes, which is a good way to find your level. Ayib, a soft fresh cheese, is often served alongside spicy dishes to cool them down.

What is the difference between Ethiopian and Eritrean food?

Many restaurants in Toronto's Little Ethiopia serve Ethiopian food, Eritrean food or both, and the two share a great deal. Both are built around injera and shared platters of stews, lentils and vegetables, and many dishes have similar names and spices.

There are differences in emphasis. Eritrean cooking shows some Italian influence from the colonial period, so you may see pasta on an Eritrean menu, and coastal Eritrea brings more seafood. Ethiopian menus vary by region too. If a menu says Eritrean, Ethiopian or Habesha (a term used by both communities), expect injera, shared plates and generous vegetarian options. Ask the staff to recommend a combination platter for a first visit.

How much does Ethiopian food cost in Toronto?

Ethiopian restaurants are generally good value, especially when sharing a combination platter. Ontario adds the 13 percent HST to restaurant bills. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service.

On Mosey, you can rate the Ethiopian restaurants you tried and the dishes on your platter, with photos, and see where friends you follow went. Ratings dish by dish help you find the kitchen with the best shiro.

More guides to read next:

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• Farmers markets in Toronto: where to go and what to buy each season
• Restaurant lists, food trails and rewards: getting more from eating out in Toronto

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