Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant, San Jose

It was my first time tasking Ethiopian food and I fell in love with the food. It was a great experience. The service is good, the staff is friendly and the ambiance is great for family. I will definitely return to this place.

I have tried all the Ethiopian Restaurants in San Jose and for a 2011 update...Great food, wonderful, kind owner-cook. First restaurant my granddaughter from Costa Rico has to go back to immediately. Maxine

Excellent service, authentic decor, and amazing food!

I have tasted Ethiopian food many times and have loved it in the past. The food was terrible here, The beef which was supposed to have been spicy was instead just boiled with no spice at all. The collard greens were so loaded up with some type of shortening and seemed to have only been spiced with cloves. The injera was cold and stale. The service was so horrible. It took so long to bring the food and they did not even once check the water glasses for refill. The walls were paper thin and you could constantly hear the toilet flushing. The only thing that was good there was the organic Ethiopian honey wine, which I am pretty sure was not made there.

I loved the place. It was great. Friendly staff and very good food. The vegetarian sampler was excellent and the Foules(?) was amazing.

I've been here many times and each time it's been a great experience. There is sometimes a fairly long wait, but at the end of it, it's worth the wait. Very friendly staff and excellent food. I'd come here anytime.

I love those rolled up crepe-like bread. Delicious food, friendly service, affordable price, and fun dining experience.

Top-notch Ethiopian food at great prices combined with super attentive and kind service makes this place a winner. Highly recommend the vegi-combo!

I came here the first time I'd eaten at an Ethiopian restaurant, not knowing what to expect, but was blown away by the amazing food. All of the food is laid out in on one round flat sourdough-like bread (injera) in the center of the table - it's a family style cuisine. They give you additional (and unlimited) bread to eat with the food. I think all of the meat stews are great - it gets a bit messy though, since you eat with your hands. I've also tried some of the vegetarian dishes. Note that it's not the same thing as the meat dishes minus the meat - they have different dishes made from lentils, chick peas, and a variety of vegetables. When I come here, I usually try to get one meat dish and one vegetable dish. The food is seasoned very differently from most American or European cuisine. You definitely have to go in with an open mind, because there's a good chance you won't be familiar with many of the spices that they use. I usually get some tej, or honey wine, with my food. I've also tried the Ethiopian tea, which is very spiced. Both go well with the meal. I've grown to love Ethiopian food, and I eat it at least once every few months. It's more fun to come with a bunch of people, so you can try a bunch of different dishes. The service is good, and the prices are pretty reasonable ($10-12 for the meat dishes). A great restaurant for those who are culturally adventurous.

After tasting Ethiopian food for the first time at this place, i am in love with this cuisine. The service is friendly, food delicious and the ambiance is homely. Its not expensive, and very healthy too. I love the coffee they serve in the tiny porcelain cup Only trouble is that it takes 20 minutes to get a check after you finish eating.