Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar – Authentic Ethiopian Dining in Watertown, MA

Today was me and my family’s first time eating Ethiopian food, and we all thought it was really good and interesting. It was nice to try something new and it was a very valuable experience. The people working there were super kind and the owner of the shop even came to us and talked to us a bit. If you’re seeing this review, I highly suggest you come here to try it at least once. My favorites were the dora wat and the green beans and cabbage.

I’ve been to Ethiopian restaurants in both Atlanta and Denver, but Lalibela in Watertown truly stands out as the best I’ve ever experienced. The food is not only authentic but also absolutely delicious—the injera is soft, fresh, and flavorful, and the veggie combo is simply extraordinary. We visited on Friday night, and the experience was fantastic. The owner mentioned that the restaurant had only opened about a month and a half ago, which makes the quality and service even more impressive. We ordered two veggie combos, Awaze Tibs, and Tega Tibs for six people, and the generous portions were more than enough to satisfy everyone. The atmosphere is another highlight. Lalibela offers two distinct dining experiences: the first floor provides a quieter, more relaxed setting, while the second floor features a spacious dining hall with a vibrant bar, perfect for gatherings and celebrations. Living just two blocks away, I couldn’t be happier to have such a unique and flavorful addition to Watertown. This city truly needed an authentic Ethiopian spot like Lalibela. Thank you, Lalibela—we will definitely be back very soon!

Loved the food and the service! Amazing and fresh Ethiopian food with lots of flavor with the added condiments, will definitely be back! Only downside is the excessive incense, it was nice to start but gets a bit uncomfortable after an hour or so.

So delicious! Four of us went to dinner here and were very easily able to share a veggie combo and a side of their spicy chicken dip. I wish I took a picture but the food looked so delicious we couldn’t wait to dig in. It so happened to be Ethiopian new year that day, and they gave us a complimentary native bread to celebrate. Can’t wait to go back!

Fantastic food! My husband and I came the third day of their opening week. They have a limited selection of options, but everything was sooooo good! Especially the vegetable combo!Make sure to get an extra serving of the bread. The only downer was the speed of service, but considering it was only the third day of opening, I'm sure they'll figure it out. We'll definitely be back.

I traveled from Florida on business and was in search for an Ethiopian experience. This restaurant has a cozy atmosphere for family and a second level for a lively adult fun. Excellent culinary moment. Great to meet the owner. Recommend it.

I’m no expert in this cuisine so I came humbly with an open palate to try their food since their recent opening. I just wanted to support a newly opened minority business representing their roots in the area and excited to try something different from the usual repertoire. First impression is how quiet and sleepy this whole restaurant was. Perhaps, I was just early and the closed curtains prevented anyone from outside to see the inside. Only reason I knew they were finally open was the little sign that showed “open” as from the outside, everything just looked dark. Service is definitely very calm and familial. Everyone just helped out in their own way. Didn’t expect more since it was obvious a family had taken over this spot to share their culture and make a living out of it. Isn’t that one version of the American dream? Food did take a while after the order was placed. But when it finally arrived, I’m glad it wasn’t just some reheat and they had actually made a stew partially cooked to order. Flavors were pleasant and not overwhelming. Portions decent and the prices reflecting portion and experience. Definitely help welcome this family restaurant to the neighborhood! I hope they stay and succeed and spread their food, culture, and hospitality!

Had a great lunch here! We got the veggie combo, beef tibs, and beef kitfo. Everything was delicious and it was a lot of food for two people - we took over half of it home! The injera was perfectly fluffy. Cozy decor and friendly servers. Service was pretty slow though and the temperature in the restaurant was pretty chilly for November so those are two things that could be improved! But I can't wait to go back!