Any African Restaurants in Houson (non-bb)

[gwat]

I'm in Houston for the weekend, taking in a concert. I would like to check out something new and different. I ate at an Ethiopian place in Los Angeles a couple of years ago and it was tremendous. I googled this for Houston and received little if any results. Anybody got anything?

[gwat]

That said, how 'bout a decent seafood/oyster bar for sunday football. Help a brother out please.

[NeilT]

I'm in Houston for the weekend, taking in a concert. I would like to check out something new and different. I ate at an Ethiopian place in Los Angeles a couple of years ago and it was tremendous. I googled this for Houston and received little if any results. Anybody got anything?

I've eaten at a Carribean jerk chicken place on Almeda a couple of times.  I can't remember the name.  Not African, but interesting.  For oysters, the only places i know are Max & Julie's Brasserie, which has no tv, and Ragin' Cajun, which does as I recall.

[Dobro]

There's an Ethiopian restaurant on Richmond.  It's between Gessner and Fondren - closer to Gessner.  If you are headed west on Richmond it will be on your right in a strip center.

[astrojo]

I've eaten at a Carribean jerk chicken place on Almeda a couple of times.  I can't remember the name.  Not African, but interesting. 

Reggae Hut - this is the same guy that owns The Breakfast Klub. 

[astrojo]

I'm in Houston for the weekend, taking in a concert. I would like to check out something new and different. I ate at an Ethiopian place in Los Angeles a couple of years ago and it was tremendous. I googled this for Houston and received little if any results. Anybody got anything?

Here's a list from a good site with reviews

http://www.b4-u-eat.com/eat002.asp?Z=&A=&H=99&N=&S=N

[chuck]

The Reggae Hut blows.

I eat Ethiopian food regularly in Houston, and I go to Addisaba, Blue Nile and Nazareth. Blue Nile would be the least disconcerting for people unfamiliar with Ethiopian food. The food is OK, the people are nice. Addisaba is a great place to go if you like food a little better than Blue Nile and you enjoy a television blaring as loud as possible so that the woman who works the counter can keep up with all of her programs. The place could be a lot better than it is, and the woman at the counter irritates the fuck out of me. She'll never know, though, because she couldn't possibly hear me shouting at her over the din of the goddam TV.

Nazareth is the place to go, in my view. Look for a tiny sign in a ratty-ass commercial center, and do not bring a large group, for it is a small room. But the food is really, really good.

The particularly good Ethiopian food in the US is to be found in two places - the ass end of U Street in DC, around 9th or so, and in Las Vegas. I've grown pretty fond of a place on Twain and Swenson, although I also really like the place on Convention Center just east of the strip.

[Taras Bulba]

The Reggae Hut blows.

I eat Ethiopian food regularly in Houston, and I go to Addisaba, Blue Nile and Nazareth. Blue Nile would be the least disconcerting for people unfamiliar with Ethiopian food. The food is OK, the people are nice. Addisaba is a great place to go if you like food a little better than Blue Nile and you enjoy a television blaring as loud as possible so that the woman who works the counter can keep up with all of her programs. The place could be a lot better than it is, and the woman at the counter irritates the fuck out of me. She'll never know, though, because she couldn't possibly hear me shouting at her over the din of the goddam TV.

Nazareth is the place to go, in my view. Look for a tiny sign in a ratty-ass commercial center, and do not bring a large group, for it is a small room. But the food is really, really good.

The particularly good Ethiopian food in the US is to be found in two places - the ass end of U Street in DC, around 9th or so, and in Las Vegas. I've grown pretty fond of a place on Twain and Swenson, although I also really like the place on Convention Center just east of the strip.

Best restaurant review I've read in years.

[NeilT]

The Reggae Hut blows.

I don't remember much about the food.  i remember thinking the waitress was cute.  That always influences me unduly.

[Rebel Jew]

The particularly good Ethiopian food in the US is to be found in two places - the ass end of U Street in DC, around 9th or so, and in Las Vegas. I've grown pretty fond of a place on Twain and Swenson, although I also really like the place on Convention Center just east of the strip.

why, in your estimation, does las vegas have such good ethiopian food?

[Taras Bulba]

why, in your estimation, does las vegas have such good ethiopian food?

Because Haile Selassie ruled the come line.

[legs_of_eggs]

Church's Chicken?

[chuck]

why, in your estimation, does las vegas have such good ethiopian food?

Because there's a shitload of Ethiopians living there. I have no idea why, but they're there. When I lived in Miami I was taking a cab to the airport to go to Las Vegas and the cab driver was plainly Ethiopian. Knowing that there are tons of Ethiopians in the area I told him I was going to Las Vegas and he lit up. Ah! I have family there! he said. Why the hell did they go to Las Vegas? I asked. I have no idea! was the reply. He went on to speculate that an Ethiopian with a large family moved there and then another followed and so on and so on. For years Washington, DC, was the place where Ethiopians in the US settled. Again, no one knows why. Probably the grandfather of the dude who went to Las Vegas came to DC. Opened a restaurant on 18th Street. Next thing you know...

And Houston. Twenty years ago the two places in the US that had any measurable Ethiopian population were DC and Houston. Now there are some Ethiopians in New York, and of course there are plenty in Las Vegas. I assume there are plenty in LA, too, but I try not to spend too much time in LA, so I don't know. I will, though, make a point of going to the Issan Thai place in LA that's supposed to be bad-ass next time I'm in LA. Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas is as good as Vieng Thai in Houston or any of the places in Chicago, by the way, if Thai's your thaing.

The Reggae Hut blows because the food is lame (it is not hard to prepare good Caribbean food) and because once when I was there they somehow managed to run out of plantains. Ran out of plantains! That's like a Chinese restaurant saying, Sorry, we don't have any more rice. Well, look, Einstein, there's a Fiesta over on San Jacinto and Alabama or wherever it is, big sign, can't miss it, and I'm pretty sure they sell plantains. Green, black, whatever you like. Might want to pick up some seasoning, too, just saying.

Listen, I like cute waitresses as much as the next guy, but come on.

Speaking of the come line, don't you love it when people bet a ton of money on the pass line and sit there and watch the rolls screaming for whatever number without having an odds bet out at all? Why not just play keno?

[NeilT]

The Reggae Hut blows because the food is lame (it is not hard to prepare good Caribbean food) and because once when I was there they somehow managed to run out of plantains. Ran out of plantains! That's like a Chinese restaurant saying, Sorry, we don't have any more rice. Well, look, Einstein, there's a Fiesta over on San Jacinto and Alabama or wherever it is, big sign, can't miss it, and I'm pretty sure they sell plantains. Green, black, whatever you like. Might want to pick up some seasoning, too, just saying.

Not defending, just suggested it as someplace interesting.  I think I got jerk chicken both times, probably two years ago, and it was hotter than I really care for any food to be.  I wrote that off as me, not the restaurant.  I wouldn't know if it were the greatest or worst Jamaican food in the world, lessen you tole me.  They had Jamaican soft drinks, an interesting place, and a cute waitress.  They didn't run out of plantains. I always meant to go back, but never did.

I'm curious about the Ethiopian food.  The only Ethiopian place I've been to was someplace in the west 80s in New York 15 years ago.  All I can recall was that the food was hummus-like, and not particularly interesting.  What should I have ordered?

[JimR]

Church's Chicken?

totally unfunny. if i had the power to delete it, i would.

[Bench]

I'm curious about the Ethiopian food.  The only Ethiopian place I've been to was someplace in the west 80s in New York 15 years ago.  All I can recall was that the food was hummus-like, and not particularly interesting.  What should I have ordered?

It always struck me as sitting around a communal plate, sopping up glop of various colors with pieces of flatbread. Every time I've had Ethiopian food, which is limited to several visits to D.C., it has been little better than simply alright. Each time I went to what I was assured as being one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the city (and thus the country), so I figure that the cuisine just doesn't excite me as it does others.

[T. J.]

Review of Addisaba, which is apparently in the Sharpstown area (never been there myself):  http://restaurants.houstonpress.com/2004-07-01/dining/african-hideaway/

[ybbodeus]

Nazereth is an Ethiopian restaurant?  Would not have guessed that.  Since Nazareth is predominantly an Arab city in Israel and Ethiopia isn't even Arab, it just seems like an unusual choice for a name....misleading, anyway.  Kinda like slappin' the name Monterrey on a Chinese restaurant.

I'll have to try that out.

[subnuclear]

Nazereth is an Ethiopian restaurant?  Would not have guessed that.  Since Nazareth is predominantly an Arab city in Israel and Ethiopia isn't even Arab, it just seems like an unusual choice for a name....misleading, anyway.  Kinda like slappin' the name Monterrey on a Chinese restaurant.

I'll have to try that out.

Maybe it refers to this place :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adama

[ybbodeus]

Thanks, I think you're right; I had initially googled a list of Ethiopian cities since my post to see if I just needed a geography lesson or something; saw Nazret on the list and was about to edit my post.
 

[Matt]

There seems to be a large and growing Somali community around the Korea Town area of LA.  Maybe some Ethiopians too but I've only heard people say they were Somali.

[Craig]

Nazereth is an Ethiopian restaurant?  Would not have guessed that.  Since Nazareth is predominantly an Arab city in Israel and Ethiopia isn't even Arab, it just seems like an unusual choice for a name....misleading, anyway.  Kinda like slappin' the name Monterrey on a Chinese restaurant.

I'll have to try that out.

Actually, it was named after the band Nazareth. You know, they had that song "Now You're Mesob with a Son-of-a-Bitch."

[Taras Bulba]

There seems to be a large and growing Somali community around the Korea Town area of LA.  Maybe some Ethiopians too but I've only heard people say they were Somali.

There's a shitload of Somalis in Minneapolis.  They have all of the airport jobs and cabs.  Rude as hell.

[ybbodeus]

Actually, it was named after the band Nazareth. You know, they had that song "Now You're Mesob with a Son-of-a-Bitch."

"I met her on a Monday and my heart stood still...."

Abdur ron-ron-ron, abdur ron-ron.


YbboZiskeyDeus

[Rebel Jew]

Because there's a shitload of Ethiopians living there. I have no idea why, but they're there. When I lived in Miami I was taking a cab to the airport to go to Las Vegas and the cab driver was plainly Ethiopian. Knowing that there are tons of Ethiopians in the area I told him I was going to Las Vegas and he lit up. Ah! I have family there! he said. Why the hell did they go to Las Vegas? I asked. I have no idea! was the reply. He went on to speculate that an Ethiopian with a large family moved there and then another followed and so on and so on. For years Washington, DC, was the place where Ethiopians in the US settled. Again, no one knows why. Probably the grandfather of the dude who went to Las Vegas came to DC. Opened a restaurant on 18th Street. Next thing you know...

And Houston. Twenty years ago the two places in the US that had any measurable Ethiopian population were DC and Houston. Now there are some Ethiopians in New York, and of course there are plenty in Las Vegas. I assume there are plenty in LA, too, but I try not to spend too much time in LA, so I don't know. I will, though, make a point of going to the Issan Thai place in LA that's supposed to be bad-ass next time I'm in LA. Lotus of Siam in Las Vegas is as good as Vieng Thai in Houston or any of the places in Chicago, by the way, if Thai's your thaing.

The Reggae Hut blows because the food is lame (it is not hard to prepare good Caribbean food) and because once when I was there they somehow managed to run out of plantains. Ran out of plantains! That's like a Chinese restaurant saying, Sorry, we don't have any more rice. Well, look, Einstein, there's a Fiesta over on San Jacinto and Alabama or wherever it is, big sign, can't miss it, and I'm pretty sure they sell plantains. Green, black, whatever you like. Might want to pick up some seasoning, too, just saying.

Listen, I like cute waitresses as much as the next guy, but come on.

Speaking of the come line, don't you love it when people bet a ton of money on the pass line and sit there and watch the rolls screaming for whatever number without having an odds bet out at all? Why not just play keno?

chuck, you and i really need to hang out next time you get to sf.

[EasTexAstro]

chuck, you and i really need to hang out next time you get to sf.

NTTAWWT

[das]

The particularly good Ethiopian food in the US is to be found in two places - the ass end of U Street in DC, around 9th or so, and in Las Vegas. I've grown pretty fond of a place on Twain and Swenson, although I also really like the place on Convention Center just east of the strip.

You betcha re: Ethopian in Adams Morgan.  When freinds visit from out-of-town, I always say, "we're going out to eat.  Don't wear a short skirt (or do depending on your motive) and wash your hands real well..."  I saw three Astros at Meskerem (my favorite) this summer.  Miller, Loretta and some dude I did not recognize.

[BizidyDizidy]

You betcha re: Ethopian in Adams Morgan.  When freinds visit from out-of-town, I always say, "we're going out to eat.  Don't wear a short skirt (or do depending on your motive) and wash your hands real well..."  I saw three Astros at Meskerem (my favorite) this summer.  Miller, Loretta and some dude I did not recognize.

Was the third guy wearing a jersey?

[das]

Was the third guy wearing a jersey?

Nope, none of them were.  I don't think the players are geek enough to go out on the town after a game wearing their Astros duds.  They were trying to keep a low profile but the Maitre d' (if you can call him that) was making such a fuss it was impossible to ignore them.  Miller was surprisingly big.  My height and a bit heavier.  Loretta was surprisingly small.  They both come across different on the tube.  Other guy was tall and big with a goatee.  Imagine that for someone in baseball.  Like Qualls bug but not him.  Heck, maybe it was a Nats player.   I wonder if guys from different teams ever hang out together after games.

[MusicMan]

Nope, none of them were.  I don't think the players are geek enough to go out on the town after a game wearing their Astros duds. 

Shit.  You're kidding me.

Next thing you'll tell me is that sorority girls don't hang out in lingerie having pillow fights.

[BizidyDizidy]

Nope, none of them were.  I don't think the players are geek enough to go out on the town after a game wearing their Astros duds.  They were trying to keep a low profile but the Maitre d' (if you can call him that) was making such a fuss it was impossible to ignore them.  Miller was surprisingly big.  My height and a bit heavier.  Loretta was surprisingly small.  They both come across different on the tube.  Other guy was tall and big with a goatee.  Imagine that for someone in baseball.  Like Qualls bug but not him.  Heck, maybe it was a Nats player.   I wonder if guys from different teams ever hang out together after games.

I was wondering how you knew he was an Astro.

[das]

Shit.  You're kidding me.

Next thing you'll tell me is that sorority girls don't hang out in lingerie having pillow fights.

One of my proudest moments [sic] as a young man was being escorted through a womans dorm at ECU and having a full-on pillow fight tumble out one of the doorm room doors into the hallway right in front of me.  With all the proper accoutrements.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time...

[das]

I was wondering how you knew he was an Astro.

Commotion at the Maitre d' drew my attention.  I recognized Miller then, with some thought, Loretta.  I completely solidified my uber-geekness to the friends I was with by knowing who these guys were, what team they played for, how good they were/weren't and if they will/should be with the team the next year.

[BizidyDizidy]

Commotion at the Maitre d' drew my attention.  I recognized Miller then, with some thought, Loretta.  I completely solidified my uber-geekness to the friends I was with by knowing who these guys were, what team they played for, how good they were/weren't and if they will/should be with the team the next year.

I meant how you knew the third guy was an Astro.

[Taras Bulba]

I meant how you knew the third guy was an Astro.

He had a red and black bandana partly showing in his right back pocket.

NTTAWWT

[chuck]

Neil: I don't mean to dismiss your enjoyment of the place; I've just had some disappointing experiences there. I'll go again when I return to Houston, and I'll also seek out other Jamaican/Caribbean joints. And I'll report back dutifully.

As for Ethiopian - I'm not a vegetarian but I usually get a vegetarian combo when I eat alone. You get all manner of vegetable dishes - six, seven, eight - and prepared very differently. A simple salad spiked with jalapenos, several different lentil dishes, some yellow and mild, others red/brown and less mild, others red and more spicy, some sort of greens along the lines of collard greens, all sorts of things. If I'm with someone else I usually would want to get a meat dish to go with it. This is where you really want to know the restaurant and what they do well. A place that is awesome at lamb might be terrible at chicken. Everything is served communally - all on the same piece of bread - so if you eat with vegetarians or picky eaters you might want to make note of this unless you deliberately wish to irritate them, which would likely be my recommendation.

Joey - Yeah, absolutely. Or ping me next time you're in Texas or when the winds bring you down here where I usually hang out.