Awash Ethiopian Restaurant: Authentic Vegan and Gluten-Free Delights in San Diego

One of our favorite spots to eat in San Diego. We try and visit each trip down. We have been going here since we were introduced to Awash by a friend back in 2011. Excellent food, and very kind owner/staff. Would recommend!

Delicious, soulful Ethiopian food in a humble and welcoming spot. We had the veggie and meat combo and everything was full of flavor. The Ethiopian coffee was the perfect finish. Great host and a great experience overall. Highly recommend.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food. We took the recommendation of the owner so that we could be a good cross section of culinary flavors. The dishes were a mixture of spice and flavors that really worked well together. Not really know what to expect, I enjoyed the flavors of everything. The owner was very concerned that we enjoyed the food, and checked on us often to make sure everything was good. He even made sure that we were eating the food correctly considering we originally asked for utensils. The atmosphere was very down to earth. And, the the owner was very welcoming. Definitely would consider eating here again.

Wow, talk about some amazing food and service. This has to be one of the best Ethiopian restaurants I’ve been to in America. It’s a hole in the wall for sure, but that adds to the charm. The person waiting on us was so kind, so nice, so helpful. You could see him literally running to the back to place orders and run food. The table next to us was a little complicated. He told them they weren’t setup for tea or coffee on a Monday night. The diners insisted and he finally said, you know what, I can make it for you, but it will not be presented as normal, but I can make it in the back, to which the diners agreed. He ran to the back and next thing you know, tea and coffee were brought to them….extraordinary. As a former restaurant worker, I’d have not asked them to go through the effort, but this was above and beyond. When I was leaving, they had some bread on the counter and I asked what it was and he described it and then gave us some to sample….it was amazing! Anyway, we had the #1 special (it’s spicy but not super hot..for reference, I eat 2-3 Thai chilis raw with just about every meal, so YMMV) and the vegetarian combo. It was all so so so very delicious. I will definitely be back!

The food was great! A friend of mine brought me here for a new experience as he’s been many times in the past and raves about their delicious cuisine! And let me say they did not disappoint! 5/5 stars! Come check them out! They are super kind and friendly too! Enjoy!

My first time eating Ethiopian food. I had a friend recommend me a few dishes. I love the spices. Only thing is I had a hard time eating with my hands, without utensils and using the special bread. I also enjoyed the drinks, particularly the ginger tea.

Awash has wonderful, flavorful food. The best option is to go to the restaurant first and speak with the owner about what you should eat and how spicy things are before you try ordering online through DoorDash. Ethiopian food can be variable depending on his it is prepared. We visited for my birthday and followed the owner's recommendations based on our parameters. We were not disappointed. I enjoyed the ribs and other beef dishes. They have Ethiopian coffee, beer, and Mexican Coke (cane sugar based) products. The ambiance is nothing spectacular; the restaurant is the front half of a convenience store with an eclectic mix of goods worth browsing (Italian Panettone, butane grills, beer/wine, motor oil). Definitely worth visiting for the food!

Delicious food in the middle of an Ethiopian market. It’s kind of cluttered and messy. The service was OK. We waited a while even though they didn’t appear overly busy. The food arrived quickly after ordering.