Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles, Yordanos Ethiopian Restaurant offers a vibrant and authentic dining experience that celebrates the rich flavors of Ethiopian cuisine. The grand opening was in the summer of 2019. As soon as you step inside, the warm ambiance and enticing aromas envelop you, creating an inviting atmosphere for friends and family alike.
With the flags of both Ethiopia and Eritrea on the counter and walls full of photos, artwork, and handicrafts, Yordanos might be the epicenter of East African life in Los Angeles outside of Little Ethiopia. Despite surviving many months without in-person dining during the pandemic, nowadays you will find groups of friends coming to talk with each other over beer, wine, or Ethiopian coffee, or enjoying an NBA game on the TV after finishing a meal.
A vibrant display of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, showcasing the rich flavors and communal dining experience.
The Menu at Yordanos: A Culinary Journey
Yordanos Ethiopian Restaurant in Crenshaw offers a peaceful and inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect place to embark on an Ethiopian culinary adventure. While there is a page of the menu that is titled breakfast and indeed has some morning items like scrambled eggs with injera and multiple options of ful, the restaurant opens at noon daily, so make your plans for the first meal of the day accordingly.
The menu features a variety of flavorful dishes, catering to both meat lovers and vegans. Here are some of the highlights:
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Appetizers
- Sambusas: A must-try appetizer, these delightful pastries are packed with flavor and make for an irresistible start to your meal. These triangular pastries can be filled with lentils (recommended) or ground beef, and each bite shatters hundreds of pieces of the thin, fried shell. The vegetable version especially is already filled with plenty of spices, but the sambusas arrive with a small plate of awaze sauce for dipping.
Niagara Samosa, Ethiopian cuisine!
Main Courses
- Beyaynetu: Ideal for vegans, this platter showcases an array of richly spiced vegetables paired with injera, the traditional Ethiopian flatbread. The colors that circle the plate besides a crisp salad with delicious dressing are black and yellow lentils, collard greens, cabbage with potatoes, shiro, and attar kik, a stew of split peas. More awaze arrives with the big plate to be used as desired, but your first round of tastes should be made without it so that the subtleties and differences of each option can be enjoyed when picked up with injera.
- Meat Dishes: For meat lovers, the lamb and salmon have received rave reviews for their tender, flavorful preparations. The menu features a variety of flavorful dishes, including the Mahberawi platter with six different items, two spicy dishes, and four other flavorful options. The Fish Kitfo, featuring salmon, jalapenos, and onions, is a must-try for seafood enthusiasts. If you happen to show up to Yordanos on a Sunday, you can order their special goden tibs ($20.99, below), fatty beef ribs that are full of rosemary, black pepper, and onion.
Most of your main dishes will arrive together on an appropriately sized dish covered in injera. The beauty of Ethiopian food is always important, and presentation is part of a meal. The vegetable plate is known as beyeanetu, but can be upgraded to include a whole trout that is fried in specific Ethiopian style.
Two-thirds of the meat eaters at the table found the beef itself to be too chewy, but that just left more for the person tasked to write about the meal. Big hunks of ribs still on the bone are mixed with tiny, crispy bits and everything in between, and is altogether delightful. The menu calls their preparation a sauté, but the exterior of most pieces is quite crisp as if they have also been deep fried. Sautéed onions and green peppers finish off the presentation.
Ethiopian cuisine features vibrant colors and diverse flavors, often served on a communal platter with injera.
Why You Should Visit Yordanos
- Experience the best Ethiopian food in LA with delicious options like salmon and lamb tibs.
- Try unique dishes such as Mahberawi platter with a mix of spicy and flavorful items.
- Enjoy the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant while sampling authentic Ethiopian cuisine.
Tips for Your Visit
- Visit during off-peak hours to avoid crowds and enjoy a more relaxed dining experience.
- Don't miss trying sambusas as an appetizer before indulging in main courses like Beyaynetu vegan dish or special kitfo.
- Consider ordering a variety of dishes to sample different flavors offered by Yordanos' diverse menu.
Highlighted Reviews
Yordanos Ethiopian Restaurant in LA is highly praised for its delicious and authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Reviewers highlight the friendly service, clean atmosphere, and flavorful dishes like salmon, lamb tibs, Mahberawi platter with spicy and flavorful options, beef with collard greens, Yebeg Alicha soaked injera, Kitfo ground steak tartar, and a variety of other tasty dishes. The restaurant's inviting ambiance and traditional injera bread add to the overall experience. Visitors rave about the aromatic spices, strong flavors, and enjoyable food adventure at Yordanos.
Whether you’re a newcomer or an Ethiopian cuisine aficionado, Yordanos promises an unforgettable culinary journey brimming with taste and community spirit.
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