Located in the Lorin district of Berkeley, California, Lemat Ethiopian Restaurant and Café offers an authentic Ethiopian dining experience. This family-owned establishment, situated at 3212 Adeline St, welcomes you to enjoy a selection of mouth-watering vegetarian, vegan, and meat dishes served in a friendly, family-style setting.
At the heart of Lemat's story is Gezu Mengistu, the owner, who combines his passion for Ethiopian cuisine with his background in biotech. Together with his wife, Ejigayehu, and head chef Tigist Gelan (Ejigayehu’s sister), Gezu has created a restaurant that celebrates Ethiopian culture and flavors.
Baskets traditionally used as a serving vessel for injera hang from the ceiling at Lemat Ethiopian Restaurant and Café in Berkeley. Photo: Andria Lo
The Meaning Behind the Name
Lemat is named after the traditional handwoven Ethiopian basket used for serving injera. These baskets are among the first things you notice when entering the restaurant. Dozens of lemat hang from the ceiling, and some larger baskets are used as tables, creating intimate seating areas.
Authentic Ethiopian Flavors
Lemat caters delicious food, with a presentation that is pleasing to the eye.
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The family’s tried-and-true recipes are at the core of Lemat’s popularity. They pride themselves on serving traditional dishes and authentic flavors.
The food is a reflection of generations-old recipes from Ethiopia’s Gurage region. Lemat imports its spices and serves regional dishes like kitfo, a marinated beef tartar.
Lemat Kitfo. Photo: Andria Lo
Our vegetable, vegan and meat dishes are served in the form of wot, a thick stew, or tibs, a sautee of a grilled meat along with vegetables, served over injera. At Lemat, kitfo is served with housemade Ethiopian cottage cheese and collard greens. Another of Gezu’s favorites is shiro wot, a comfort food made from roasted and ground chickpeas simmered in a crockpot with garlic, onions and either hot spicy berbere or turmeric.
Must-Try Dishes
- Kitfo: A marinated beef tartar served with Ethiopian cottage cheese and collard greens.
- Shiro Wot: A comforting stew made from roasted and ground chickpeas simmered with garlic, onions, and spices.
- Veggie Combo (Beyaynetu) & Meat Combo: These are Lemat's most popular dishes.
Come for OUR 100% TEFF INJERA and stay for the authentic flavors and Ethiopian hospitality. Their homemade injera - the springy fermented bread that is a centerpiece of Ethiopian cuisine - is made, in accordance with tradition, entirely with teff, a grain native to Ethiopia that is naturally gluten-free.
Read also: Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine
The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony
To commemorate that the origin of coffee is firmly rooted to Ethiopia’s history, Lemat also serves patrons with traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Lemat offers a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony which, Mengistu said, is an integral part of social and cultural life in Ethiopia.
Ethiopian coffee at Lemat. Photo: Andria Lo
Ethiopian coffee beans are freshly roasted at Lemat in Berkeley, and the brew is served black. Guests who call ahead can experience the ceremony, which lasts about 45 minutes. All aspects of coffee making, from roasting to pouring, are done table-side. Guests who are shorter on time can still order individual coffees served in the traditional vessels.
“An invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality,” said Mengistu. “Performing the ceremony is almost obligatory in the presence of a visitor, whatever the time of day. The ceremony can take a few hours back home.
Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Steps
- Coffee beans are roasted fresh.
- Coffee is brewed and served black.
- The ceremony lasts about 45 minutes and is performed table-side.
A Cultural Hub
Mengistu is enthusiastic about sharing his culture’s history through food and decor, but guests also get a dose of pop culture with contemporary music videos playing in the background. The restaurant hosts live Ethiopian jazz nights the first Saturday of every month.
Read also: A Taste of Ethiopia in South Carolina
Artwork and paintings from Ethiopia adorn the wood walls of Lemat, which was formerly a judo studio. Photo: Andria Lo
Artwork and paintings from Ethiopia adorn the wood walls of Lemat, which was formerly a judo studio.
