Tana Cafe & Restaurant

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Step into Ethiopia and open your senses to East African homestyle cuisine at . This humble family-owned business is ready to embrace you into their culture, with traditional menu options that are all about coming together and enjoying great food and company over a shared dining experience. is new to the Ethiopian food scene and we can see this place growing into a thriving establishment once the word spreads. It's located just 15 minutes from the CBD in Allenby Gardens with adequate car parking and plenty of seating available.



The simple decor falls by the wayside of thought as we taste the amazing food on offer, appearing to be such simple dishes yet masking a rich history behind every flavour. Spices sourced from their homeland in Ethiopia bring intense and unique flavours to every bowl; a delight waiting in every bite.



An appetizer was the first to arrive at our table, consisting of crispy, herb-crusted flatbread served with a creamy, garlic and herb dip which tasted similar to Tzatziki but with a little more oil. The flatbread came in three different styles ranging in flavour and texture from crispy to slightly soft and mild to slightly spicy. This is a must have starter, sure to be irresistible and quickly consumed. We love that the bread is so thin, you can enjoy lots of it without filling yourself too much before the mains arrive.



With our group of five we opted for the meat and vegetable platters for mains which consisted of three choices per platter. This option worked well for the varied tastes of our group; the lovely owner, Abebe Habtemariam, was only too happy to recommend various dishes that we should try. Served up with plenty of injera to satisfy the hungriest of diners, we each ate as much as we could with plenty remaining to take home for later. There was no way we were going to waste any of these delicious offerings.



Some of the standout dishes for us were the Kay Siga Wot, beef slices served with rich flavour and the perfect amount of heat; the vegetarian Alicha Kik Wot; and of course the ubiquitous Doro Wot - the best we have tried on our journeys so far. Special mention goes to the fresh handmade cheese accompaniment to the Doro Wat known as iab or ayib; light and fluffy in texture, and not overwhelming in flavour, it broke down some of the spice in the dish for those that struggle with the heat. If you can't handle chilli, look out for items with 'Alicha' in the name which literally means mild dish.



Injera is the spongy fermented pancake style bread served with main dishes, which is traditionally used in place of utensils when eating Ethiopian food - just your hands, or specifically your right hand. There are usually larger holes on one side of the injera. This is the side you should use to scoop your food. Tearing off small portions of bread and placing onto your fingertips will act as a spoon to pick up small portions of food, while also soaking up all of the sauces on the plate. While we attempted this traditional method as best we could, there were a few cheaters at the table but thankfully no food ending up on anyone's lap! The combinations of the bread and sauces were amazing. Our only negative is that it is so filling when we just wanted to eat more, more and more.

In fact, if you do want more, buffets are available on special dates or for large bookings. Some of these are just $25 a head with soft drinks included. Check out their facebook here or their website here for more information.





After lunch we were called over to a special platform at the back of the restaurant and treated to a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. As we watched, our host roasted the green beans over hot coals in a brazier before they were taken away to be ground. Next, the fresh grounds were placed into a 'jebena' to brew. We each enjoyed two cups of the strong beverage although traditionally the ceremony includes three or more. This is a great time to socialise with the owners and find out more about their culture as well as the preparation involved in East African cuisine. We spent quite some time talking with them and enjoyed learning more about Ethiopia.



Burning incense is a traditional aspect of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, and the wonderful fragrance really added to the atmosphere of the experience. The blend of incense they used during our ceremony definitely included sandalwood mixed in with other scents. We were told that this would linger during the day letting others know that we had visited a traditional Ethiopian establishment.







is a truly welcoming place to linger for lunch or dinner. We spent almost four hours here, with no idea where the time went. An unforgettable experience that we hope to share again with friends and family in times to come. Take the East African cultural journey and open your senses to something new.

**We give 4.5/5 Wanders for their delicious food, excellent coffee, for embracing us into their culture and making us feel so welcome.

Where 1 Wander isn't worth getting off the couch for and 5 Wanders should leave a trail of dust in your wake: it's that good. **

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