Tana Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant

For authentic Ethiopian and East African cuisine in Adelaide, its worth making the short trip out to Allenby Gardens and Tana Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant. It’s appropriate that this Grange Road eatery also calls itself a cafe – curious foodies should know the importance of the ritual coffee ceremony to Ethiopian culture – and Tana is certainly a great spot to drop by for a cup of the good oil, but it’s the delicious Ethiopian dishes that are the main attraction here.

East African cuisine is at a crossroads between the culinary cultures of the ancient African nations themselves and the influence of Arabic and Middle Eastern traditions. Often spicy, Ethiopian cuisine is typified by hearty soups and stews served alongside a traditional flatbread called injera that also doubles as an (edible!) eating utensil in its own right. At Tana Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant you can find a range of meaty and vegetarian wot or stews and tibs, dishes consisting of spiced and sauteed meat and vegetables. It’s dishes like these that form the backbone of the menu at this African restaurant in Adelaide’s Allenby Gardens.

For a real taste of East African cuisine, gather together a big group and order up a few of Tana Ethiopian Cafe & Restaurant’s platters. The beef and vegetarian banquet is a seven-course affair for two, four or six people, or you can reach even more lavish heights with the special Tana banquet, offering Adelaide diners an even more comprehensive survey of the possibilities represented by Ethiopian cuisine. Be sure to order up a round of Ethiopian beer or the traditional beverage known as birz, a sweet and sparkling soft drink made with honey. You can find this slice of African paradise along Grange Road in Allenby Gardens.