The first time I ever tried Ethiopian food, I was living in Los Angeles after college.
We drove down to Awash on West Pico and suddenly everything came into focus. I was instantly and completely enamored with the flavors.
When I first moved to Rome, I lived in San Lorenzo, a student-heavy quartiere that lies beyond Termini station.
I circled the neighborhood, gradually broadening my radius until I landed in Repubblica and wandered by Africa.
It took a bit of convincing, but I brought Jimmy back to Africa (the name of the restaurant) to try Ethiopian food for the first time.
Now, he is the one that requests it.
Only a 5 minute walk from Termini, we visited most recently for a quick dinner before a train to Salerno.
If this is your first time trying Ethiopian food, order from the principle menu.
I opted for vegetarian (largely lentils and vegetables), while Jimmy usually prefers the kifto – stewed beef.
The food is served on a large platter, and layered on top of injera.
Injera is the traditional bread – slightly sour and a tiny bit spongy. It is a flavor that I adore, but might take some getting used to.
Don’t expect utensils – simply rip off a piece of the injera and use it to pick up the food directly.
Africa
Via Gaeta 26
Rome, Italy (Repubblica)
+ 39 06 4941077
Open: Tuesday to Sunday 12 pm to 1 am. Closed Mondays.
