Face it: You’ve ruined far too many dinner parties by choosing the wrong fork at the wrong time, horrifying fellow diners as you dig into your roast with your salad fork. For your next dinner with friends, opt for Ethiopian, where diners eat with their hands, using injera (a spongy flatbread) instead of utensils. Here, Vancouver’s best Ethiopian restaurants.
Harambe
Do your best gursha – the art of hand-feeding your dining companions – with the Chef’s Choice platter ($24.99 for two), which comprises all of the most popular meat and veggie dishes. 2149 Commercial Dr., 604-216-1060.––
Fassil
Thank Ethiopian Orthodox Christians — who abstain from animal products for many fasting days — for the diverse vegetarian dishes. Every Monday and Tuesday is Vegetarian Night, with dishes like Alicha (curried veggies) and Gomen (collard greens in sauce) ($8.99). Don’t miss the elaborate Ethiopian coffee ceremony. 5 – 736 East Broadway, 604-879-2001.
Nyala
This Main Street spot combines the flavours of Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa with local ingredients for dishes like Yasa Watt (fresh fish stewed with spices, $18.50). Check the entertainment calendar and enjoy live music and the late-night menu. 4148 Main St., 604-876-9919.
Addis Café
Try the inexpensive lamb dishes at this friendly Drive destination, which special orders ingredients from Ethiopia. The Yebeg Combo for two ($22.00) will introduce you to lamb Key Wot (cooked in spicy sauce) and Tibs (with onion and peppers). 2017 Commercial Dr., 604-254-1929.
Image courtesy of nep.
