Lalibela UPDATE - Los Angeles

Omg they showed up on Doordash. 

It's a small long distance fee for a hell of a drive, but LA and maybe the world's best Doro Wot is worth it. Theirs is a depth which no others can approximate, and I don't know if I truly understood the hype behind this Ethiopian essential until I tried Lalibela. The chicken is so tender, but nothing beats the egg. The sauce is dark and buttery, earthy and profound, savory and rich. It's long and it lingers, a melange of sweet and savory notes that make it move. It soaks into the airy crevices of the spongy injera, and sweet meets sour for an elemental balance that's second to none. 

It can never be said that Lalibela lacks versatility as this wildly different dish of Yebeg Tibs is something that sings. Cubes of lamb sit in a sea of spicy butter, flavors heightened with herbs that enhance the meat and aromatics. 

The Veggie Combo is best for balancing out the meats, and the special one with Fish just caught my eye. 

A whole grilled trout is too good not to take, but I won't be getting that again. This previously fresh fish is drydryDRY, overcooked to the point of jerky, a shameful waste of something special. 

The rest of the veggies are great, highlights include a punchy sauce for the lentils in the miser wot and fantastically fresh collards in the gomen.

Fish-fail aside, Lalibela is still lovely. The doro wot has flavors that transcend all reason, and that they retain my favor. 

Emma Habesha - Inglewood

Another Ethiopian place within doordashing range?? Just when I think my life can’t get better, here comes Emma Habesha. 

Their Doro Wot is delicious, some sweet and sour nuances, plenty of depth to the sauce. I do wish it was a bigger portion, but two drums and an egg seems standard - I just want more of the good stuff.

Awaze Tibs are alright as well, tender beef but not quite the punchy, memorable burn that you get from Queen of Sheba. 

The Veggie Combo is so fresh and so clean, the collard greens in particular. The other items are as expected, straightforward lentils and whatever. A bit bland but not a bad option for lighter sides. 

At the end of the day, I think I prefer Queen of Sheba. The flavors of Emma are mostly faultless, but a bit too clean so that they feel almost sterile.

Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant - Inglewood

It's not so easy to pop over to Little Ethiopia when the injera craving hits, but from Inglewood's Queen of Sheba, Doordash will deliver. 

The injera is airy and sour-fresh, and the presentation is neat and clean, even in a styrofoam take-out box. 

Longtime staple Doro Wot hit the spot, and what's not to like about a buttery, sweet and stewy chicken leg with a spice-soaked egg? 

Doro wot was what I wanted, but what I needed was the Lamb Awaze Tibs. The pepper sauce is sweet and red-hot, and there's a buttery fragrance to finish with a flavor that lingers long after you've swallowed. And something about that buttery pepper sauce with the rich gameyness of the lamb makes you want more and all you can do is eat until you can't. 

The Vegetarian Combo is great for a variety of solid sides so you're not just eating meat. Red lentils are rich, and a yellow split pea is hearty and sweet. Collard greens are a much-needed leafy break between meaty bites, and a stewed cabbage and carrot are a comfort. 

Good food overall, great tibs that are actually better than Messob. I love the location as it's closer to the South Bay, but I do think they could hold their own in Little Ethiopia as well.

Aduke Nigerian Cuisine & Lounge - Inglewood

Aduke has been on my bucket list, and a free Friday had me meandering up to Inglewood. I've always wanted to try Nigerian food, and I'm told their takeout was fabulous...last year. 

A lot can happen in a year, and things started going south here immediately when we stepped up to order. We stared, wide-eyed, at the overwhelming menu and asked whether a tempting-looking dish of baked chicken gizzards was supposed to be an app or an entree. The young man at the register squinted in confusion, mumbling, "We have a chicken gizzards dish?" as his eyes frantically scanned the menu behind him. 

Conventional wisdom dictates that if the staff aren't even aware of the dish, you should order something else. So we asked what we should order and complied with the suggested combo plates. One was white rice, plantains, and Curry Goat, chunks of miserable meat like rubber with a watery yellow sauce that can only be described as an approximation of curry. It's like a person who has never seen, smelled, or tasted curry described curry to someone else who then tried to make it.

The Jollof Rice combo had potential - the red sauce, a tomato-based spicy almost-gravy, had such flavor and the side of greens was fresh. Unfortunately, the beef and the fish looked the same and both had turned to jerky from sitting in the warmers for what was probably several days. We arrived around noon and I can't imagine anything could get so dry in a single morning.

We also tried the meat patties, which were honestly no better. The beef patty was very bland with a pale, cooked but not browned crust, and the fish was mostly dry dough with a small swipe of salty stuff in the middle. 

I don't know what happened between last year and now. I've only heard good things about Aduke, and even Eater LA has heaps of praise. That said, I am deeply disappointed with the very poor quality of the food and felt like we got handed a bunch of leftovers that should have been thrown away. I just can't imagine this is the best Nigeria has to offer, but after my experience at Aduke, I'm hesitant to find out further.

Lalibela Ethiopian - Los Angeles

Rain, rain, keeps everyone away so we get this whole restaurant to ourselves for our random Wednesday lunch. 

It's early enough for Coffee, and it's never too late for this bold, fruity brew. Add a spoonful of sugar to taste, sip slowly. 

Does coffee go with Doro Wot? A surprising but wholehearted yes. The fruity notes brighten the earthy notes of the spices, bold and bitter with bits of burning brightness. Confirmation bias be damned, this does taste different from any other doro wot I've tried, and though the spices check the boxes, there is something more memorable about these flavors. New angles are unlocked as you eat, and no two bites are the same. 

I can never resist the richness of a Kittfo. Is it meat-butter or butter-meat? At Lalibela it's delightfully hard to tell. Chopped so finely it turns to liquid silk on the tongue, buffered by a creamy cottage cheese, this is another dish that evolves as you eat, a gorgeous gasp of meaty steak and milk. 

It's impossible to finish a meal at any Ethiopian restaurant, but it all warms up so well. The trick is to melt the ghee without cooking the kittfo, but it all makes a beautiful morning-after meal. Come to Lalibela anytime you're around. It's unforgettable food and food for days, and it's all just so fantastic. 

Banadir Somali Restaurant UPDATE - Inglewood

Keep it simple and do what you do best. That's what Banadir is doing, and Banadir is the best. 

Meat and rice with a side of salad and a banana. A bottle of water instead of tea. The Goat is falling off the bone, it's rich but it's lean and clean. 

Lamb looks like goat, but it's more gamey and equally great. 

Tilapia is a new venture, and these thin and flavorful slabs of fish are a safe adventure. 

The salad is mixed greens, covered in a creamy white dressing. The real standout is the rice. It's fragrant and flavorful, so savory as well. Firm yet tender long grains create the perfect texture, and it's good enough to stand alone. Smear on the green sauce. It stings skillfully and lightens the heavy meat.

Did I mention these generous practically 2-people portions are only 15-17 dollars? It's hard to get anything good for that price in this economy, but if you're looking for exceptional and exceptionally cheap, Banadir is where it's at. 

Kabba’s Kitchen - Portland, OR

It's our last meal in Portland so it's bittersweet and it better be good. No pressure.

Oh, it's all good, even this Ndambe Sandwich, which I had serious doubts about. It looks like a less sloppy black-eyed-bean sloppy joe, but it's so much better. The beans have real flavor in a kickin' tomato and onion sauce for a lighter lunch that is bean-tasically messy to eat. 

A tart Hibiscus drink and a bold Ginger drink both go great with all the spices. 

The Mafe Yapp is a hearty, slightly more hefty selection. Shredded beef is tender in a thick peanut sauce, a stew so thick it's practically solid. Serve over rice to savor.

And a side of sweet Plantains is a must.

It's all so good, but you're really here for Fataya. Flaky, crispy crust encasing a fabulous filling, full of spice. Dip in a chunky onion chutney for best results.

African food is an adventure for us, the perfect conclusion to our adventure in Portland. A lot of great things to be discovered in this crafty kitchen at Kabba's, just go with an open mind and eat.  

Banadir Somali Restaurant - Inglewood

It's a new world we're living in, most of it not so good. But not all new experiences are bad, and a rice plate at Banadir serves a steaming reminder of just how good going outside your comfort zone can be.

The Goat and Rice is the best comfort food. In the world! A heaping helping of tender, bone-in chunks are lean but not-so-mean, and their savor permeates al dente spikes of basmati rice fragrant with nutty spices. Onions alternate between mildly caramelized and mildly crisp, a highlight to the bouquet of sharper spices; pinches of cumin and dashes of turmeric.

The Lamb and Rice is a similar thrill, dominated by gameyness, strong but soothing. Dip all your meat in the bright green hot sauce. It's bright and refreshing, a highlighting burn of something peppery and hot, with a lilt of mint and lime. Just dip lightly because it hurts so good.

The Beef comes in long, skinny strips, tossed with tomatoes and leaves of basil. The beef is bit dry here, but I did ask for them to substitute anjera for rice, so there wasn't anything to hold the moisture in. 

Get a side of Anjera if it doesn't come with your order. It's like a pancake married a crepe but a pinch of Ethiopian injera snuck its way in. Barely sour, only a hint of that fermented flavor, fluffy but thin. 

My only other critique is that we didn’t get the promised tea or the banana with any of our meals so do check your order before you leave. That said, the portions of food weren't exactly lacking, and I didn't really miss either one.

Times are tough, but all we can do is support each other, and businesses hurt by the lockdown are a good way to start. Banadir is one shop worth saving. It's a taste of a beautiful country you may never see, and it's a delicious taste of a cause worth keeping.