Habesha Restaurant in Newport

Great food, really friendly staff.

We had a lovely meal here. Very friendly welcome and service. We enjoyed the dorho wat, tibsi and shiro. Look forward to going again!

I have eaten very well today at Habesha, Newport. The tasty food was served in generous portions. It is somewhat no-frills, which is reflected in a low price. I would recommend this place if you are looking for traditional Eritrean or Ethiopian traditional food, or you are curious about trying other cuisines, or if you'd like a good, filling meal on a budget. The set meal is a shared dish you eat by breaking off pieces of injera and using it to pick up the stew - no cutlery. I really enjoy injera, which is a sourdough bread/pancake which forms the bulk of the set meal, and this injera had typically good texture and flavour. The variety of stews that were served with the injera was great, the two beef stews and the lentil stew were particularly good. I hope to return soon to have another meal plus coffee, looking forward to it.

Delicious food, friendly service, nice atmosphere

I have been in hospital for 14 days and Habesha have fed me most of this time. The zighi and tibzi with egg royale and salad always hit the spot. The service is efficient, whether the food was collected or delivered the quality remain top notch. The owner is on top of her game and has fantastic customer service. I cannot emphasise enough how much habesha looked after me and my family. Try habesha, for delicious,authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Thank you habesha. Grace

Such a shame this place has only 1 terrible review on here, from ages ago. Having eaten here recently, felt obliged to leave my own. Although only my opinion, can only assume it was left by the competition, or someone intending to put the place out of business, as it does not appear to be at all factual. It claims the injera (pancake-like flat bread) was, well, I don’t know what; black and rancid, and that the food was not even Ethiopian. When writing ‘negging’ reviews, I wonder if making it so extreme ends up making it sound more fictitious. So, have my suspicions, but won’t say any more. What I can say is that I’ve eaten at Habesha recently (3 times so far, and will be going back!) and can confirm that the food was served on injera, which was the real deal (see photo), and I can confirm it was definitely Ethiopian. It was also really nice. While I’ve been to a few places in Africa, never Ethiopia, but I have eaten in Ethiopian restaurants in Amsterdam, London, Bristol and the US. Many other countries have Ethiopian restaurants in the larger cities. We’re a bit of an exception in the UK, with Indian and Chinese dominating the foreign food options. Don’t get me wrong, love a good Thai or Indian, but Ethiopian gives another, different option and we’re lucky to have it. Undiscovered by most, who like to stick to the formula they know, for those up for trying something a little different, Ethiopian food is such a find! Far from the 80’s stereotypes, Ethiopia sits on the Nile, is very verdant in parts, and was on the spice route – so has a hugely rich food culture. For perspective, the most consumed food or drink product on the face of the planet; coffee, is said to have originated from there. As far as the food is concerned, think stews with eastern spices blended with western herbs, served on a big pancake that you dig in to with your hands (like a naan bread, but thinner, softer and healthier (made with Teff and other flours, so often gluten free, although you’d have to ask if Coeliac). As well as the main stew / curry type sauce dishes, to accompany this (depending on what you order) you get little lentil daals and other vegetable side dishes, all arranged on the same pancake, (without having to order each separately). I’m a meat eater, but Ethiopian is ideal for veggies and vegans. In Bristol, I’d say 70% of the customers are vegans. That (similar) place has my favourite TripAdvisor review of all time, referring to the price and tastiness, and summing it up by saying: “off to burn down my kitchen… eating here from now on!” Anyway, we are lucky to have one (or is that even two?) in Newport. While other countries have them in most big cities, in my limited experience, in the whole of the UK, pretty much, outside of London, there are very few. Bristol is the only one I’ve found so far. And this is another reason for (selfishly) writing this review; if more people don’t value this little gem of a restaurant, it won’t last as a great alternative out there. It’s just that most people don’t know what it is, or why it really should make it on to their list of favourites. Having said that, it’s won’t be everyone’s cup of tea - so will say just a little more, to help steer people in the right direction / make it an easier decision for those who don’t know what to expect… Basically, if you like spiced or flavoursome food, like Indian, then it is a good bet you will like Ethiopian. That’s not to say they are the same. My wife is from South America, and doesn’t like really spicy food, and yet she enjoys Ethiopian so much that it has tempted her to try slightly spicier stuff (she hasn’t made it off a Chicken Korma yet, when it comes to Indian). I think I’ve said enough about the food, that along with the photo, you can probably figure out the format by now. I’m sure cutlery can be arranged (for the Covid-wary, OCD or nervous types), but for me it is a really sensory experience, like how Italians rip food in the centre of the table and share it. For the foodies out there, you end up with a beautiful smell on your fingers after the meal that connects you to the food in a way that a naan bread does for Indian. TIP: traditionally, you eat the pancake under the food, but for me, as a westerner, I tend to like to ask for extra injera, as while deliciously soaked in sauce, the bread it was sitting on can get a little soggy / messy. Also, while the main stews are, it is not always meant to be piping hot throughout every component. Anyway, the whole eating with your hands thing… I’m sure you don’t have to, but it does give you the kind of idea about it being informal, in terms of ambiance and eating experience. It’s not somewhere you’d put your best shirt on for, to take your partner for a romantic, posh date. While, as a confirmed foodie, I like both ends of the spectrum, this is the other end to something like The Priory, which is also a favourite. A different genre of favourite though. The ambiance and décor is ‘African street café’, rather than ‘swanky cocktail joint after a £2m refurb’, and I’d imagine it would need a few more people using the restaurant to be able to invest in upgrading the furniture. Also, because of the cultural differences, it’s slightly easier to end up with not exactly what you want. So, if you do decide to go, don’t be shy and just talk to the cook and owner Asti (sorry if my spelling is terrible – had to guess at it). Because I know Ethiopian, this is easier for me to do, but just get stuck in! She’s friendly and helpful. For example, some of the dishes on the menu come with just a meat stew and the bread. At the time of writing, they go for around £8, which I don’t think you could feed yourself for that easily, or so well, with other genres of food. I didn’t want this though. I wanted the variety (like you see in the photo) with the vegetable sides and daals laid out on the bread. The only option I could see on the menu for this was the vegetarian one (told you, it is good for veggies!). And so I just asked Asti if she could make the mixed selection plate, but swap out for a bit of meat, and chose one of the chicken dishes from the menu to add, which of course she did. Don’t stick to the script and be bold! Explain what you like, and give it a few attempts, and you’ll soon get the hang of it / love it as much as everyone else who knows about this best kept secret! Other things to try are naturally the coffee (it’s strong, like Turkish coffee), and the honey wine. It’s not a big boozer’s establishment, for those who like to dress up and sink as much red wine as mouthfuls of food… but you can get beer etc. Not against a glass of vino, but again, just trying to build a picture so people don’t have the wrong expectation of this kind of place. It’s ethnic, but not in a way that is unwelcoming or inaccessible. It’s very relaxed and a little shabby chic, with the level of chic slightly debatable. If you are at all a foodie, or open-minded, you shouldn’t let this stop you at all. Habesha’s is really something you cannot afford to miss!! Top find! They say that “disappointed expectations are the root of all unhappiness.” So, it’s not everyone’s 5 stars… as I’ve tried to guide folk on above. If you’re looking for the posh napkins and crystal glasses ambiance, it might not be the experience you’re looking for, but for the open-minded, based on price, food experience, friendliness, it’s a definitely 5 stars! Depending on what you’re making, I swear you could eat here for less than cooking a meal at home these days! So, come on Newport! Let’s keep the multicultural vibe going!!! (it's cash only – so don’t just go with your iPhone)

What a beautiful place and delishes food

Lovely authentic food, great price and the host made us feel very welcome. Loved the coffee!!!

I went to buy inJera from Cardiff, got off in Newport and costed me a lot to find the restaurant. I bought and I was excited. When I came home and opened it, it was not inJera, it was a mess of corn and quite bitter flavour and black stuff I believe yeast. One of my family got sick, hence the next day we had to throw. I was very happy that did not happen anything to my relative and to me, because what they sold us was not Ethiopian or Eritrean food, it was something invented and they did not follow health and safety issues. I personally do not recommend to anyone. Safety goes first, and later profit. But it seemed they sell wherever by saying it is Eritrean or Ethiopian food. Terrible.

Nice and testy food with with smile food serving