Massawa - NY

4.8

168 Reviews

$30 and under

African

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

About this restaurant

Vegetarian-friendly
Neighborhood gem
Good for special occasions

Massawa in NY has been proudly serving the community since 1988. It has provided a full and fantastic menu, which has helped to strengthen the continued popularity of the eatery. The restaurant offers up a wealth of quality Ethiopian and Eritrean food, which is served traditionally and eaten by hand. Options on the menu at Massawa include appetizers such as vegetable sambuusa, beef sambuusa and ful. Some of the other popular menu items include tebsi, kitfo and zegini. The restaurant has beef, lamb, poultry and seafood. In addition, Massawa provides options for vegans. A range of wines and quality beers are available at the restaurant as well.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
African
Hours of operation
Daily 11:30 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(212) 663-0505
Website
http://www.massawanyc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual

Location
1239 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027
Neighborhood
Harlem
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Beer, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wine

Shiro$20.70
Split peas, pureed to perfection. Slow cooked in ginger, herbs, and spices
Timtimo$20.30
Savory red lentils stewed w/ berbere and hints of ginger
Alitcha$20.30
Ensemble of potatoes, carrots, collard greens, and cabbage baked in turmeric
Birsin$19.90
Spicy brown lentils stewed in berbere
Cablo$19.50
Cabbage and carrots sauteed in garlic and turmeric
Tsebhi Hamli$19.80
Tenderly cooked collard greens stewed in tomatoes and berbere
Vegan Sampler$24.00
Sampler of Shiro, Timtimo, Alitcha, Tsebhi Hamli
- For Two$44.00

Beef Entrees

Tebsi$24.00
Tender sirloin cubes sauteed in onions, tomatoes, berbere and herbs
Zegini$24.00
Beef cubes simmered in a thick stew of onions and berbere

Lamb Entrees

Tsebhi Beghe$25.50
Spicy chunks slow cooked in onions and berbere
Alitcha Beghe$25.50
Turmeric flavored mild stew in an onion puree

Poultry

Tebsi Derho$24.00
Cubes of chicken breasts sautéed in onions, tomatoes, berbere
Derho Hiwas$24.50
Chicken breast cubes sautéed and finished with collard greens
Silsi Derho$24.50
Drumsticks, slow braised in an onion puree stew of berbere and herbs

Seafood Entrees

Salmon Tebsi$26.00
Wine glazed cubes sautéed in onions, tomatoes and herbs
Shrimp Tebsi$25.60
Citrus marinated, sautéed in onions and tomatoes

What 168 people are saying

Massawa - NY reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.5Service
4.6Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New York City
Healthy
Manhattan
Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Massawa in NY offers "excellent vegetarian choices" and "amazing food, service, ambiance, and value." Guests appreciate the "attentive and knowledgeable" staff and the "wonderful and authentic Ethiopian food." It's "great for vegans" with "delicious, well-seasoned dishes" and a "lovely cozy vibe." Highly recommended for an "excellent experience."

168 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago1 review
3.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 4
Horrible service. Food came out cold. Flavors are good, but there’s probably better Ethiopian places to go to.
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S
Sofia
Greater Boston3 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
If you're looking for good Ethiopian food in Manhattan, I highly recommend this spot. The ambiance is great, the service is spectacular, and it's just the right size for great vibes but also coziness. I go here often with my family, and with friends, and the chicken sambusas are to die for.
Is this helpful?
A
Anonymous
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on February 11, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The nicest staff and delicious food with lovely atmosphere!
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H
Holly
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on February 9, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
You won't find better Ethiopian than in this place. Have been coming here for 16yrs and return again and again because the flavors are just right. Loved by the community but never crowded, and you will never be rushed from your table. The menu and prices have changed slightly over the years, but I appreciate the more lunch option they've continued to provide. Best African comfort food & atmosphere in Harlem there is.
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J
Joshua
New York City3 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 30, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent restaurant food ambience and service! Highly recommended!
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R
Ranjit
Dallas12 reviews
4.0
Dined on January 2, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
This was our 2nd time eating at Massawa and it did not fail us. Very tasty Ethiopian food. Friendly staff and a nice simple ambiance.
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S
Shourin
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on December 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Really cool place. Had a mixed platter with tibs, shiro, gomen which was really satisfying. The wait staff is very friendly. All in all a great experience.
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H
Holly
London2 reviews
5.0
Dined on December 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Massawa is absolutely terrific. We were a group of five and shared the vegan and meat platters. Everything was delicious, especially the lamb stew and red lentil dish. They were very accommodating of my daughter who has celiac disease. Thoroughly enjoyable meal!
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A
Adam
London1 review
5.0
Dined on November 28, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Lovely experience, great vibe, delicious food, and we were never rushed
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M
Marlene B
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on November 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, service, and ambiance! We plan on returning.
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FAQs

Massawa - NY offers delivery in partnership with Postmates. Massawa - NY also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 663-0505.

Massawa - NY is rated 4.8 stars by 168 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 15, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

Order delivery or takeout

1239 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027

Additional information

Neighborhood
Harlem
Hours of operation
Daily 11:30 am–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
African
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Takeout, Vegan, Wine

Website
http://www.massawanyc.com/
Phone number
(212) 663-0505

Massawa - NY

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Appetizers

Sambusas$7.70

Ful$12.10

Vegan Entrees

Shiro$20.70

Timtimo$20.30

Alitcha$20.30

Birsin$19.90

Cablo$19.50

Tsebhi Hamli$19.80

Vegan Sampler$24.00

Beef Entrees

Tebsi$24.00

Zegini$24.00

Lamb Entrees

Tsebhi Beghe$25.50

Alitcha Beghe$25.50

Poultry

Tebsi Derho$24.00

Derho Hiwas$24.50

Silsi Derho$24.50

Seafood Entrees

Salmon Tebsi$26.00

Shrimp Tebsi$25.60

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

Does Massawa - NY offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Massawa - NY restaurant rated?

Is Massawa - NY currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information