Messob Ethiopian Restaurant
1041 S. Fairfax Ave.
$9-$17
3.5 Paws Out Of 5
So you want to visit Africa?
First, add up the costs. Plane ticket: $1,775. Jungle Safari Excursion: $1,255. And that doesn’t even include lodging or meals.
I balked at these figures too, so instead of venturing into a country such as Ethiopia only to accumulate a lifetime of debt, I decided to sample some of the most delicious Ethiopian food right here in Los Angeles on a budget.
Just 12 minutes away from Westwood, students can enter into a world full of Ethiopian shops and restaurants. One particular restaurant in Little Ethiopia, a stretch of Fairfax Avenue that’s just off Wilshire Boulevard, stands out: Messob Ethiopian Restaurant.
The crowd was lively as we arrived on a Saturday night, ready to take in a new culinary experience. The restaurant was packed, so we had to wait for about 15 minutes in the “wait room,” a large room at the back of the restaurant.
This was a bit of a deterrent, not because of the room’s size ““ it was large enough to be a banquet hall, so we weren’t cramped ““ but because we did not receive much attention for a while.
Once seated, however, the tide turned in a more positive direction.
We sat on chairs surrounding a mesab, or wicker hourglass-shaped table. Our mesab had a green-and-red zigzag design, which complemented the rest of the restaurant’s red, green, yellow and burgundy decor.
A cabana area located at the front of the restaurant continued the straw and bamboo theme; once inside, it feels as if you’re in a tent on your own private safari.
But on to the important part: the food and drink.
The Ethiopian honey wine is a must for any first-timers. This nectar of the gods is sweet but heavy. It won’t be showing up at the next frat party, however; you’ll probably only be able to down one glass. Nevertheless, if heaven had a taste, this would be it.
In an effort to keep with traditional Ethiopian customs, we ate with our right hands only. And instead of utensils, patrons are given a basket of injera, or flat sourdough bread, to use to pick up your food. Injera looks like the surface of the moon with its extensive crater-like holes dotting the bread. Its texture reminded me of a sponge.
The waitress placed a long white plate in the mesab, and a huge circle of injera on top of that. You can literally eat your plate when you’re done with the food, much like clam chowder in a bread bowl.
The dishes were dumped all together onto this edible plate, creating a tapestry of rich aromas and colorful foods.
The best dish of the night was the awaze tibs, cubes of beef with onion, tomato, hot red pepper and spiced butter. It wasn’t too spicy to send you over the edge, but the spiced butter gave it a special zing.
The wot, or wat, is the most traditional Ethiopian dish. It’s a stew that can be served with doro (chicken) or siga (beef). Messob’s doro wot was a hit among my friends.
The kitffo was by far the spiciest dish of the night. This one is definitely not for the faint of heart. The finely chopped lean beef with spiced Ethiopian butter and mitmita (spiced hot chilies) are an explosive combination, but our taste buds were cooled down by the homemade cottage cheese.
The only disappointment was the regular tibs, which were bland compared to the rest of the food.
Most Ethiopians are Muslims or Orthodox Christians who are prohibited from eating pork, so you won’t see any pig at Messob. And vegetarians, take note: Messob’s lentils and tomato fit-fit will leave you wanting more.
All in all, this restaurant is perfect for getting a taste of Africa without leaving the comfort of Los Angeles.
And hey, you only have to spend $11.
E-mail Fylstra at jfylstra@media.ucla.edu.