Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Kategna Ethiopian Restaurant in San Jose

4.4 (199) 1663 W San Carlos St, San Jose, CA 95128, United States

Categories

Ethiopian restaurant
Restaurant

Location on the map

San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, US

Phone: +1 408-216-9695
Site: https://kategna.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11:30 AM–8:30 PM
Tuesday:11:30 AM–8:30 PM
Wednesday:Closed
Thursday:11:30 AM–8:30 PM
Friday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Saturday:11:30 AM–9 PM
Sunday:12–8 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.4

199 Reviews for Kategna Ethiopian Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2023-08-12 06:02:28

Nice employee who reccomended me delicious items. Not to mention they had great prices, especially for a sit down restaraunt. It was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I would go again. Also they have a partially halal menu with all the chicken and lamb items being halal

Review №2

2023-04-29 02:25:08

I love Kategna! It is a beautiful restaurant hidden in an inner courtyard of an otherwise innocuous shopping area. I have been to a number of Ethiopian restaurants in San Jose and this is still my go-to place.They have a great selection of Ethiopian food fare, but the core offering of an Injera base with various offerings on top is the authentic experience to enjoy here. I personally recommend the meat and vegetarian combos, and I personally love the lamb ye beg tibs ❤️This restaurant is decorated in a beautiful way, great art reflective of Ethiopian culture, a number of traditional tables where you can enjoy your meal in an authentic way, and other cultural elements all of which add to the traditional experience.The place has a full bar with a great selection of drinks to choose from. Also, the place is a full coffee bar (buna bet) if that is what you are looking for (appropriate since Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee). I really enjoy the experience with their siphon coffee - it is fun to watch it be made and produces a really rich coffee to enjoy.The service is great, the server was very friendly and made the whole experience special with her attention to detail

Review №3

2023-07-09 05:25:40

Wow, the food was good! I’ll admit that I am a novice with Ethiopian food, but every thing was so tasty! Comfortable and unpretentious place with very helpful staff. About 1/2 the people eating here are of Ethiopian heritage.

Review №4

2022-01-23 07:34:11

The place is nice. The service is average. Food could be good depending on what you order. The reason for the 3 star is that lamb dish was not explained well as it had some other internal organs like liver and it tasted awful. Expressed that I didnt like it and it was not able to eat, but nothing was offered or no express of trying to make amends. The food took a long time as well. Over 30 minutes

Review №5

2023-01-18 01:53:54

The food was good, I have had Ethiopian food at zeni and this was really well below its level. Also the portion sizes were small. Overall its okay but I didnt like the atmosphere it smelled funny. Anyways Ethiopian food doesnt disappoint..

Review №6

2023-11-12 02:24:49

Don’t sleep on this Ethiopian food. A relaxed environment, great injera, and awesome combo plates for groups. We moved away from the Bay and we think about this place frequently! A great representation of Ethiopian food and hospitality! Also next to the Goodwill.

Review №7

2022-03-08 21:21:00

A good Ethiopian place with a really nice internal ambiance. Really good food . Good place for Vegetarian to go to ☺️. The vegetarian combo is a good bet to try the new flavors. Not the best tasting Ethiopian food ever but still pretty good and a good place to go. Really nice experience overall.Google/ Apple pay is accepted so it can be comfortable for many.

Review №8

2023-12-05 21:17:43

Thank you for creating this beautiful experience. The dish was fresh and bright and the injera was fluffy. And the music was slick.And the service was chill and attentive.

Review №9

2021-08-14 18:51:56

We went on a Sunday afternoon. Ambience was good. They had a cute little teapot set on display. We ordered the combo platter which tasted good. All in all good place for Ethiopian food.

Review №10

2021-04-11 09:00:11

The food was good. The service was great.When we drive in to park the restaurant was not easily visible.We walked in and took our seat. We had ordered for a lamb dish and a vegetarian dish, both of which tasted great with injera.I must say that this place had a good number of options for vegetarians.The ethiopian wine was great as well. It didnt look like your regular californian wine. It was opaque and had a hint of red chilli powder i think. It tasted great too.

Review №11

2017-12-23 05:42:33

This was my first time trying out this place and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. The food was amazing and you even get to eat with your hands!! I ordered the meat combo which came with Beef, chicken, lamb, homemade cottage cheese and a salad in the middle. All eaten with their speciality bread! So yummy, I absolutely loved it. They even have many veggie options for those who wish not to eat meat. I think next time, Ill try their speciality siphoned coffee.The service was very attentive and helpful. This is a must try place either by yourself, with the family or even a group of friends! Cant wait until my next visit!

Review №12

2022-10-16 10:48:53

First ethiopian meal experience which our group enjoyed thoroughly. Tried the sambusa, kifto and ye beg tibs, which were more than plenty for 4.Went for a late lunch so the restaurant was rather empty apart from 2 tables. Loved the Ethiopian art and setup. Only gripe was the indoors felt enclosed with not much ventilation.

Review №13

2022-03-22 22:32:56

My first time trying Ethiopian food.Good food but slow service. But overall good experience. Initially there was no one to take the order, so we went to the counter to place the order. After this it was quick. Chicken Tibs and Ethiopian tea were great.

Review №14

2021-09-18 22:13:14

The decoration is very Ethiopian and the coffee is very good. But food may need to be evaluated by more suitable people. The way to eat directly with your hands is still not very suitable.

Review №15

2018-09-24 03:14:29

Love the veggie combo. Salad which is included in the combo had a very delicious dressing. Ambience is best among all the Ethiopian restaurant in the south bay. Not too crowded on Sunday afternoon. They also have plenty of seating.

Review №16

2023-09-28 14:18:19

Food poisoning warning: my date and I loved the food, but within a few hours I was vomiting profusely and he had uncomfortable diarrhea. I suppose food handling practices need to be majorly improved. Bummer!

Review №17

2022-05-14 22:27:43

Location is just about ok. Taste is average. If you just want to try Ethiopian, you will get a sense of it and that’s about it.

Review №18

2023-11-04 22:51:02

Food was good, and delivery was fast.Im very sensitive to heat, and they were great about adjusting my order to include nothing spicy!

Review №19

2023-09-12 16:38:24

Great food. Attentive & timely service. Will ask for more salad next time. We each had one of the lamb dishes, both were delicious.

Review №20

2018-10-28 07:21:59

One of our favorite Ethiopean restaurants in the area. Lots of vegetarian options, nice staff (although always a little understaffed when we go) they have Ambo, a delicious extra bubbly, a touch salty Ethiopean sparkling water, and a good herb brew for their traditional tea. Its one of the few places that seems to always have gluten-free teff only injera. If you order the sambusas make sure to ask for hot sauce with them.

Review №21

2018-04-21 05:17:15

This is our first Ethiopian restaurant, and it did not disappoint. The restaurant location looks shady from the street side. It sits inside a strip mall. You have to walk into the atrium to get to the restaurant. Inside the atrium, you will see other stores (upstairs and downstairs). This restaurant has seating outside. The interior is very classy. The ladies who work here are very hospitable. We told them that it was our first time eating Ethiopian food, and they were so happy to hear that. We ordered Kategna (bread) as an appetizer. They are cut into triangles. I do not recommend eating it folded in half- it becomes too salty. When you order, it is family style, so do not expect that everyone will be served their own individual plates. We ordered chicken, lamb, and beef. Although chicken is their most popular dish, it was our least favorite of the 3 meats even though it was good. Your meal comes with injera (Ethiopian style tortillas with a spongy texture). You do not use utensils to eat Ethiopian food because you use the injera to pick up the food and it soaks up all the juice and flavor of the meats. The lamb and beef were so delicious! We also ordered coffee. It was made fresh at our table- like watching a chemistry lab experiment...very cool. When the coffee is done brewing, it is poured into very small espresso cups. You may add steamed milk (you have to ask for it) and/or sugar. This is REALLY good coffee, and I am a coffee snob. I cant stand Starbucks. If you have tried Chromatic and Philz coffee, then you know what Im talking about. We will definitely be back...with friends and family.

Review №22

2019-07-06 03:48:25

Excellent place for vegetarian foods . Good ambience and courteous staff. We have ordered 2 vegetarian combo. It has all the items of vegetaraian listed in the menu served on the Injara bread ( like dosa of south India) other than a shiro wot( powdered chick peas sauce flavoured with onion herbs oil berbere sauce and spices) and Foule.It was good for 4 people who are light eaters but for 4 of us it was more than full. It was suggested that one veg combi is sufficient for one person. I ordered enat tej Ethiopian wineIt was honey wine and it was like a desert and very sugaray. For starters ordered sambusa( like somsa of India) and Katenga ( Toasted injara coated with berbere(spicy red pepper) and Ethiopian butter)The injara bread was tangy and on the whole the food was excellent.The total cost was 72.88 USD. It is economical and the portions were reasonable .would defintely try and would recommend for vegetarians as it has good varieties and more like south indian food

Review №23

2023-08-03 02:50:16

Bad food. Extremely extremely overpriced. And that’s coming from someone who loves to support small businesses. It’s just robbery at this point. Horrible service.I promise you there are so many better Ethiopian restaurants in San José

Review №24

2021-06-25 06:28:14

A surprise Ethiopian find. Amazing food and food ambience. Each dish is flavorful in its own way. Loved every dish but the Atakilt Wot, Gomen Wot and Yemesir Wot deserve special mention. Cant wait to go back here.

Review №25

2023-04-16 21:37:06

Best Ive had. Amazing food, nice environment, good pricing, good portions. Had the chicken, fish, and combo veg. enough to reasonably feed 4 ppl. We ordered spicy and its not too spicy (like medium Thai intensity). Plenty of good seating space inside

Review №26

2023-02-25 23:56:28

Ordered for pickup due to pandemic. Their injera is light and fluffy, the entrees are tasty and the portions are pretty large. They are legitimately good! Finally, some competition for the restaurant on Saratoga Ave. Will definitely be a repeat customer. Be sure to try their sambusa, its the best vegetarian one Ive had so far, great texture and taste.

Review №27

2021-09-07 06:15:53

The service was pretty slow to begin but once ordered, it was pretty quick. They seemed understaffed for a Saturday evening. The food was super tasty and ambience was great. BUT WE FOUND TWO STRANDS OF HAIR in our veggies. Yes, you read that right. The waitress was polite and apologetic, and took it back immediately. We were out of that place in no time.

Review №28

2022-07-14 20:29:12

Portions are huge, we ordered the two specials, and we were asked if sharing, so it came a giant plate. We loved the spices and food was great.The place was totally empty at lunch time.

Review №29

2023-01-01 23:46:30

Food was delicious! We had the veggie combo and one of the meat specials (not kitfo, forgot the name). That was more than enough for my wife and me. The only ding I can give is timing of service. It looks like a family restaurant and they dont have a lot of staff. Everyone was nice and food was great, but we waited about 45 minutes for our food. Restaurant was almost all full.Come for good food if you have a lot of time.

Review №30

2019-05-18 23:23:06

Cute restaurant and great food. If you are a vegetarian and like spices, its a great place to try some food as they have one page full of options for vegetarians. They give you good tips on what to pick.

Review №31

2023-01-29 07:39:25

Great service. Very friendly and caring. Lovely Ethiopian wine.The food was so good with so many unique yet scrumptious tastes. The vegetarian shared dish was superb.And good lighting. Not too bright but nice and atmospheric

Review №32

2022-02-12 05:21:59

Fantastic food that’s priced right. I found the place much larger and less crowded (and hence safer during these times) compared to Zeni. Taste wise I didn’t find it any different than the other Ethiopian places I’ve been to.

Review №33

2023-10-08 21:18:35

Veggie combo with another dish is perfect for two hungry people or three less hungry people. Love this place.

Review №34

2018-12-02 06:54:48

Found this great Ethiopian place near San Jose, close to Santana row. They have an unique appetizer called Katenga which is made from toasted injeera and special red chili sauce and butter. It was amazing and a must have. The veggie combo was a recommended dish and it lived up to the expectation. If you are little more hungry, I would suggest the shuro wot as a side dish which is amazing. The place has a nice bar and good ambience. I would definitely go here again, beats waiting in line at Zeni any day.

Review №35

2023-02-16 03:41:57

They seemed a bit short staffed but even with that in consideration, I still waited a very long time for my food (about 1 hour and 20 minutes). I wasn’t very hungry when I walked in so that was the only thing that justified me waiting for so long.Finally we get our food (#10 and #18) and I immediately felt like I’ve been robbed. I love trying new foods from different cultures and am very familiar with various cuisines around the world. But this was ridiculous. First off, it was cold. Spent $19 on #18 entree for it to come with 1, singular chicken leg. I understand supply chain and the cost to to run a business but that is just unjustifiable to charge that much for 1 regular-sized chicken leg. Spent another $19 on #10 for “tender” beef, which couldn’t have been more overcooked and chewy. The flavor of the food was decent, but kind of bland. I’m sure I, and even you, can cook better food than what I was served that night.I can’t really say much else other than it was the worst dining experience I’ve ever had. I was in disbelief but wanted to be empathic to this small business. Not sure if I caught them on a bad night, but I asked to make sure if this is how the food is supposed to be and the waiter said yes.Didn’t feel like arguing the bill. Just wanted to leave immediately after taking the first bite. Very disappointed, especially after seeing all of the good reviews.

Review №36

2020-02-29 15:46:10

Great food and not as crowded as other Ethiopian places around. The hostess was very kind and helpful with suggestions.We loved the appetizer called Kategna and the vegetarian combo meal with other non vegetarian dishes

Review №37

2020-09-09 01:59:42

Perfect little restaurant for those times that you want to be in an out of the way place and enjoy a delicious meal. When you are there, it feels as you have stumbled onto a secretive but charming hideaway. Service is always pleasant.

Review №38

2023-08-22 16:04:57

Flavor is on point but their dishes can be on the salty side. Still a place Ill revisit and enjoy.

Review №39

2023-07-25 05:15:50

The service was really poor. Only one woman server and she was really not interested in doing her job. Food was okay though. Seemed a bit pricey for the amount.

Review №40

2021-08-15 16:37:36

I’m a vegetarian and GF, and was elated to find a place with favorable delicious foods.I had Shiro Wot and although the description didn’t sound impressive the flavor was exhilarating.

Review №41

2018-10-08 21:01:46

I have been trying to find a good Ethiopian Restaurant for a while, did not disappoint. Had a lamb dish and the spice was perfect. Coffee was good too. Definitely plan on visiting again.

Review №42

2018-02-15 05:21:10

Very pleasant meal; Incredible Ethiopian food! It took some time for the food to arrive, but we walked out very satisfied.

Review №43

2022-12-22 19:57:11

This place has a weird entrance but the inside the restaurant is good. Food was good and loved their sambusa which was freshly fried. Didnt like the service. Only a few tables were occupied at around 6:30 on a Friday evening and one staff serving who seemed barely interested and casually browsing phone.

Review №44

2019-02-24 05:55:55

We got the meat combo, the vegetables combo, and the fish. The fish was the best dish, highly recommend. Service is a bit slow but ok. Also tried the foule. Really tasty.

Review №45

2023-01-27 17:01:34

Food was ok. I was expecting big shared plates like how it is done traditionally.Beef was on the chewy side, the flavors could be a bit stronger. Id liked to have some rice with the meal.

Review №46

2023-02-15 19:54:49

The food used to be good and the customer service as well. Now they will give you wot and not enough injera. Also, its interesting and sad that they prefer and will give you better service if you speak to them in English than Amharic, or they dont even say they dont speak Amharic. They would rather reply in broken English than speak to you in Amharic.

Review №47

2018-03-13 23:27:13

Fantastic restaurant with really great food and service. Abby was our waitress and she was very nice.

Review №48

2023-06-18 05:18:04

Slightly slower service but great food. We are recent converts to this place. We used to go to Zeni and Walia previously.

Review №49

2022-08-10 04:43:30

Spacious, effective ambience & decor, delicious food. I have a food intolerance to pepper. I appreciated that not all dishes were ridiculously spicy. We ordered the meat combo, veg combo, and a lamb dish. They make their own tej.

Review №50

2022-03-22 03:51:05

The food was served a little coldThe customer service and service was not good they didn’t give us plates and I asked for plate for appetizersI don’t come back here

Review №51

2016-12-25 02:33:45

This is my first Ethiopian restaurant so I dont have a baseline to compare the food against but I liked the food. Lot of vegetarian options.

Review №52

2022-09-24 17:08:53

Gorgeous fresh food. Clean, and delicious. We ordered the beef special, and lamb dish. The spice level was perfect. Highly recommend. Great service.

Review №53

2022-06-01 03:11:17

Good food and awesome ambiance.

Review №54

2023-02-10 22:05:59

Oh God, what a refreshing experience! The ambience is VERY relaxing (seriously, its worth it just for that) and the food blew my mind. Service is fast and polite. Did i mention how the food is so good? The flavors are something to remember.

Review №55

2021-11-05 01:17:03

We enjoy coming here. The food is always delicious and the atmosphere is quiet and relaxing. Brought my sister here to try ethiopian food for first time and she loved it. Ordered meat and veggie combos to get the full experience. Topped with tea, coffee and tej. We sat, ate and talked for awhile, and the staff made sure we had everything we needed. Thank you for excellent service.

Review №56

2023-07-04 22:03:23

Poor customer service. Food was okay, very small portion when ordering meat or veggie combination.

Review №57

2023-10-20 20:38:45

Delicious food! Highly recommend the juicy lamb

Review №58

2023-05-12 23:40:26

Still my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the San Jose area. Incredible flavors and the best tej Ive ever had.

Review №59

2021-12-28 18:51:00

I am a huge Ethiopian food fan and decided to come in to get the whole experience versus take out. This is my first time trying this place; the place wasnt packed and had these two girls who were taking orders and delivering food. The service was extremely slow despite less people in the restaurant; it started with even getting a menu card and water to our table. We ordered the vegetarian combination and it took forever to come, I bet we waited for 30 mins easily. Once the food came in, the ingera was very cold and most of the vegetarian sides were cold; which was the very reason I didnt opt for a take out since the ingera would be cold. We ordered a side of the miser wot which was $8.99; the portion size was ridiculous. I wont be coming back!

Review №60

2021-12-31 14:28:03

It was freezing cold and rainy in the Bay Area but I had decided to drag my mentee with me to support my favorite local mom-and-pop restaurant. It was my second trip this month, amidst the storm and the surge of Omicron! What can I say, a girl has to eat some good food, and this appetite is always willing to go the distance to dig my hands in the Injera. 🤗You cant go wrong with their juicy Yebeg Tibs (my absolute favorite!!!), Yedoro Wot and the vegetarian combo. Their stew, meat and vegetables (especially the collard greens) are so tender and flavorful that it feels as though all the herbs and spices collide and explode in your mouth. 😋😚 Delish foods like this can be dangerous--please come with your buffet shirt ready and you might need to be wheeled out of there if you dont pace yourself.In all honesty, you can tell when certain food is prepared with so much heart and soul--you can always taste and feel that love from the hands that make the food. Just be patient with the process and soak in the homey and cozy ambience of this place while high-quality food is being prepared. What comes with love is not quickly and readily available in an instance like the ones at those fastfood joints.This is the fourth Ethiopian restaurant in the area that Ive dined at, and its safe to say, Im going to keep coming back to this place for the foreseeable future, as long as the quality of their food doesnt change. I really hope their business will survive the pandemic.Having had the luxury to enjoy the abundance of cultural foods around me over the years, it has taught me a few lessons about respecting and cherishing the beauty of differences in our world. It is important that we learn, not only to appreciate the good foods around us and the products that we consume, but we must also learn to love the hands of those who labor with heart and soul to create those foods and produce the things for our daily consumption.Words of advice from me:• Be willing to go out of your comfort zone to try new things, adventures in food and experiences in life, and you may be pleasantly surprised and in for an exquisite journey.• Never prejudge the quality of the food by the exterior of the restaurant or its surrounding landscape. Some of the best authentic foods are located in the heart of those good ol neighborhoods, while many superficially fancy-looking restaurants can be costly but have no soul food to offer.• Gems like Kategna just take a little more efforts to dig and little longer to find, but its so worth it! 😉

Review №61

2023-03-26 19:44:16

More people should visit this place. This tastes way better than the place Zuckerberg went to. Both the Veggie and Meat Combos are amazing choices!

Review №62

2020-07-07 22:03:14

Could not have had a better take out experience from Kategna! My friend and I ended up taking the food to the Rose Garden just up the street and we had plenty of napkins and injera galore which even tasted good next day for leftovers. Definitely can tell that they put a lot of thought and effort into the wonderful food that they cook! Will definitely keep supporting this business! By the way, pairs fantastic with California red blend wine!

Review №63

2017-09-30 03:15:48

This is a great Ethiopian restaurant. My friend and I ordered the veggie and meat combos, which were served on one plate. Everything was so delicious. The lamb and chicken were particularly tasty. The service was excellent and the ambiance was very pleasant. This is by far, one of the best Ethiopian restaurants around.

Review №64

2020-09-04 04:44:12

Incredible food and service. I have eaten at Ethiopian restaurants all around the US and this is my favorite by far! My wife was born and raised in Addis Ababa for 15 years and cooks Ethiopian cuisine regularly and this was as closed to home cooked as I’ve experienced at a restaurant. Fresh and flavorful.

Review №65

2021-06-21 10:37:22

My husband stopped in here weeks ago to see if they had gluten free injera. They said they do but to call to make sure they had it. I called in on Fathers Day yesterday, told them we had a table of 6 and were going to be coming in at 6pm. They said they did, and to come in anytime. We arrive at 6pm and are seated, made to wait 10 minutes then told they need to see if they have gluten free injera. They tell me they only have 2 servings. 4 of us are gluten free, but thats why I called. They werent apologetic at all. The dude just said, we had it earlier, but not now. So we get up and left. We wont come back. They tried to ruin Fathers Day. We were able to eat at one of the other Ethiopian restaurants on San Carlos. There are at least 3 others. Try those other places!

Review №66

2021-08-29 04:04:55

Really delicious! Ive been to a few Ethiopian restaurants in my time, and this is near the top for sure. Great selection and everything I had was flavorful and delicious. A new regular spot!

Review №67

2017-12-05 07:03:11

Big fan! Flavor Galore.To begin, Im already a fan of Ethiopian Cuisine.Mebrat the owner is such a sweet lady, so friendly and informative. One can clearly see how passionate she is about her food and her restaurant.We ordered the Meat Combination and Vegetarian combination.Both dishes were excellent.⁃ The Lamb, Chicken and Beef were all done to perfection...no complaints!⁃ The vegetarian Combo was also perfect.⁃ The Spices. The Enjerra. The Ethiopian Beer. The Coffee...well I dont drink coffee, but everybody else at the table seemed very impressed.The inside of the restaurant is much nicer that the outside.Dont really know what else to say...come on down and check it out yourself. I really doubt you will come away disappointed.

Review №68

2017-12-25 06:57:09

Went with a large group of friends last last week, and Im still thinking about how great the food was here!Especially loved the chickpea based sauce dish (kinda like chana masala but with a different equally bomb flavor profile). A lot of the food reminded me of analogous Indian foods, but the flavor combinations were new to me, and equally good :) Highly recommend if you like Indian food.The hosts were very nice to us, and let us stay inside chatting long after we had finished the food. They even offered us extra bread.Looking forward to coming back with more family and friends.

Review №69

2019-10-19 04:20:22

Nice restaurant, friendly staff but understaffed. Our food was served on large platters. Some of the choices we made were a bit bland. I was expecting savory dishes by the description of each dish on the menu. When it came to ordering dessert, they were out. The coffee i ordered was very good. Otherwise...meh!

Review №70

2021-07-07 05:18:15

This was one of the best Ethiopian restaurant around. The food was juicy and flavorful. If you eat beef there are ample options. If chicken, lamb or veggies, you wont be disappointed either. I am a fan of their doro-wot. My only crib is the doro wot contains only one leg piece. I expected more chicken content in the entre dish. The lamb tib tib was good and enough quantity. The main entre dishes are good for 1-1.5 people, each at about 17/dish. The Tej (honey wine) is brewed inhouse and cost a reasonable 25/bottle. Expect 50-75 for 3 people including a bottle of Tej. Unlike many other restaurants, there is ample parking, no waiting. The staff was very patient and served with a smile. Highly recommend.

Review №71

2023-03-26 19:04:29

Good food, great service.

Review №72

2016-02-26 17:45:50

As far as the interior goes, this is probably the nicest Ethiopian restaurant I have been to. The place was nicely decorated, and even had some nice booths. They also have a full bar and a few outdoor tables. There is plenty of parking since it is in a shopping mall, but it is in a nice courtyard, so you arent looking at the parking lot while eating. The server was on her own, so she wasnt the most attentive, but she didnt forget about us either. The injera wasnt too sour, or too bland. The raw kitfo special I had was great, came with some good cheese and a sauce and seasoning on the side. Also ordered a lamb dish (forgot the name...), but that was very flavorful with grilled onions. I also ordered some food to go, veggie combo and meat combo. All really good as well.

Review №73

2020-08-11 01:48:11

I like this place. I think its the best Ethiopian food in the area and better than walia. Service is great. They got my order wrong though but it was so good I still come back. Its a tad bit more expensive than other Ethiopian restaurants.

Review №74

2021-10-01 01:52:18

Ive eaten here on a couple occasions. Recently had takeout. Everythings always been delicious. The place often seems empty... Which typically is a signal to me not to eat there but I love the food. Maybe more people need to know about this place.

Review №75

2022-02-26 19:02:47

Im surprised this place isnt more popular! It was so great. The sambussa was the best amongst all the other popular Ethiopian places in the area. Cute and cozy ambience.

Review №76

2020-07-18 20:02:23

This is my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant! I’m not sure what is different, but the food is somehow more flavorful. Fish Goulash is amazingly delicious. Timatim fitfit is nice and spicy. Veggie combo is great. They are very generous with how much injera they give.

Review №77

2018-02-13 22:39:23

The food is tasty & offer very similar dishes like famous Ethiopian restaurants in Bay Area! Ambience is good and has more space to walk around! Kids friendly too! Then why 2 stars - well because of the service! We reached around 7pm on Friday evening. There were hardly any people..so got place immediately. Ordered sambusa and main course! It took 45 min to get sambusa which was refried/reheated! Cover was harder to chew but filling was tasty! Then another 30 min to get main dishes served! We were not a huge group.. just 3! When we were about to leave, a restaurant lady asked us about experience! We shared the same thoughts .. & then she started with all Friday evening rush and how their food is better than other places n all) well, just one suggestion to owner - if you can’t take constructive feedback then don’t ask for it!

Review №78

2018-07-12 18:14:59

Amazing Ethiopian food! Soul food. Healthy options, vegetarian options. Lots of chicken and beef options! Manager is very nice and friendly, offers good suggestions. Any Ethiopian plate is usually big in size and you can share at least with one other person.

Review №79

2018-04-03 02:37:51

I ordered-- and absolutely devoured-- the Key Wot.Scrumptious food, excellent service.

Review №80

2021-05-29 00:13:02

Customer service was great, love where the restaurant is located. Quiet and the ambience was beautiful. Dont even get me to talk about the food, it was fantastic. We definitely will be coming back to eat 😊😍

Review №81

2019-03-31 03:17:43

So I was in an uber this morning and the driver and I were discussing cool restaurants to try here in San Jose. I was trying to figure out what have I yet to experience in food culturally and the first thing that popped into my mind was Ethiopian! He dropped me off at my destination and I did not think much of it and continued about my day. Later in the afternoon, my boyfriend calls (he is currently in Georgia) and says he is about go to dinner with some family and he asks me where I am going to go for dinner tonight and I say, what for it... Ethiopian! I do not know why, but I just could not get it off my mind! By this time, Im walking down Shasta and I look on the Google Map app to see that less than five minutes from where I was, was what my soul has been calling out for all day! 😂 This was my first time eating at Kategna and I absolutely enjoyed it! The service was fantastic. The food was amazing. I had a lamb dish which was so juicy and full of flavor as well as an Ethiopian macchiato. Both of which I highly recommend! That macchiato was like nothing I have ever tasted before. It was so rich, creamy and smooth. Absolutely yummy. 😋There is such a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere here. If you are up to try something new and add some exciting tastes to your palate, come eat at this wonderful establishment. You will leave with a very satisfied soul and full belly! Its been said that spicy foods are known to benefit the human digestive system and metabolism, which to me seems like an awesome deal for such a wonderful meal ;)

Review №82

2021-08-09 08:00:29

Great food and ambience, though the service could be a little slow. We had a lazy Saturday lunch here. Sambusa and Kategna were especially a delight. Siphon coffee is a must-try experience!

Review №83

2020-01-05 11:44:34

This is my favorite Ethiopian place in South Bay. Relaxed atmosphere.. Great friendly service and you see more locals which is a testament that the food is authentic. Unlike other Ethiopian places which are often top crowded and avoided by Ethiopian origin folks themselves

Review №84

2016-10-23 17:48:04

So Yum! Vegan friendly, super homey environment, delicious food, fair prices and wonderful and kind staff. The owners made sure to take the best care of me and my date. Ill be back for my Ethiopian fix soon

Review №85

2018-04-21 23:43:17

Good food but took very long to come.

Review №86

2018-04-21 22:31:33

A refreshing taste. Felt like Indian curry. Didnt know Ethiopian cuisine tasted this great. A must visit. Try the platter so you get to taste the chicken, beef and lamb. The imported Ethiopian beer is also a must try.

Review №87

2018-03-21 02:24:11

Strikes me as a bit of a hidden gem among South bay restaurants; no ridiculously long lines and no wait-time to get seated. Service has always been efficient and friendly, seating is plentiful, decor is traditional and tasteful, prices are reasonable, and food has always been outstanding. We usually get the samboosas and veggie combo; both have been very flavorful. As for drinks, we have tried their traditional Ethiopian coffee and Enat Tej (sweet wine) and have loved them both. Since the traditional Injira is usually eaten by hand, its especially thoughtful that they have a clean stand-alone wash basin right within the restaurent for folks wanting a quick hand rinse without having to step out or wait in a line for the restroom.

Review №88

2019-11-30 05:12:05

I forgot how delicious Ethiopian food was! This place was incredible and so fresh tasting. I visited from out of town. Back where I live, theres only one mediocre Ethiopian restaurant so coming here was great! I only wish the prices were a little better! I hope to come back next time Im in town

Review №89

2019-03-04 16:44:36

Everytime I come here, its always a welcoming experience. Everyone who works here is so friendly and helpful. The food is delicious (we ordered the meat combo) and even when we were full, we wanted more injera (Ethiopian flatbread) to soak up the rich flavors. I always order the hot tea as well, which is like a delicious chai blend.

Review №90

2017-08-14 04:11:24

Our favorite Ethiopian restaurant. The fish goulash is excellent. We usually get a veggie combo plus fish goulash for two adults and a kid. The chai latte is delicious too. I got the tej once - it was tasty, nicely honey-y.

Review №91

2017-08-02 05:31:02

Good authentic Ethiopian food. Great service in a nice ambience. Before you come in, the surroundings look sketchy. Although, food was great. It can be noisy from the martial arts place if you seat by the windows.

Review №92

2019-08-18 03:11:15

Midwest gal goes out on a limb and tries something exotic. Fabulous. Nice atmosphere and good service. The food was out of this world good! The lamb was great and the sea bass was even better!

Review №93

2018-09-04 00:01:46

Horrible service. Firstly, we did not get food till 45mins after we ordered. Secondly, the portions are extremely small. Finally (but the worst) was the service. They kept ignoring most of our questions. We ordered a coffee and tea that never came. When we were still asking questions regarding when the food will be served, the waitress walked away. She was also extremely rude while serving us. I was under the impression that injera will be unlimited. Even if not unlimited, they should give one roll per head at the very least. We were 5 of us and they gave only 4 rolls. In the end while the bill was paid, they gave us 2 tissues for the 5 of us!!! What are we supposed to do? Tear and share them??! Will never go here and would never suggest this place to my worst enemy.

Review №94

2019-07-17 05:28:37

Meat dishes were dry and tough.Collard greens (gomen) were pretty good.Unfortunately I didnt get to try any other vegetable dishes since I was there by myself and they wont make a mixed platter of meat and vegetable dishes for one. The meat combination just has meat and cheese so I ordered a side of gomen which was more food than I wanted.Not awful, but basically unremarkable Ethiopian food. Go somewhere else.

Review №95

2021-09-19 21:38:36

Its a great Ethiopian restaurant, the food is amazing and original. You can go with 9 people and still find a place together, baby stools are available too.I enjoyed the fish kutlet and kitfo . Oh and free wifi.

Review №96

2021-11-15 00:26:46

I love the food and the service is excellent.. The veggie combo and lamb based sauces are my favorites. At times the veggie combo are on salty side for my taste otherwise everything is as good as my mom used to make it😁😁😁

Review №97

2019-09-12 01:43:06

Katenga Ethiopian restaurant is the best in the area,we loved the welcoming customer service .The Food is amazing very clean we like the open setting to have both modern and cozy traditional sitting option,perfect for gathering to have a large or small groups.They have the best special traditional and modern coffee choices a must to try,we love Katenga and the overall experience we definitely go back

Review №98

2018-11-21 16:06:16

The food and the decor is good here. I have been going to this place for the past 4 yrs or so and the place has changed.We order vegi combo and we noticed that the portion size has significantly reduced and so has the quality. Their service has always been slow.

Review №99

2019-01-08 19:36:24

Overall my experience here was pretty good. We asked if the veggie combo plate was enough for our whole party (3), the waitress said it was only enough for 1 person, but it was big enough for all of us.The only issue I found with this place is that their Alitcha was a little under cooked, you could feel the sort of chalky like texture indicative of under done lentils. Their injera, on the other hand, was very different than most places. It was a bit darker which lead to a deeper caramel flavor (sort of like a rye) that blended very well with the classic lightly fermented injera taste.They also put all the dishes towards one side of the plate, kind of minor, but it made it easier to eat the injera on the plate.

Review №100

2018-12-09 16:16:36

We ate family style. Food was ok. Ambience was good. The reason why I am giving 3 star instead of 4 star is the wait time. The restaurant was not busy at all when we were there. They took around 15 minutes to give us glass of water and take the order and the food came aroung 50 minutes after we entered the restaurant. I guess the place is sverely understaffed.

Review №101

2017-11-01 15:16:43

Very delicious authentik ethiopian food,Very friendly service and you will not be pushed out to give space for the next customer! Nice price and an awesome family owned coffee, like late, machciatto, erspresso etc. People keep coming back and its a spacy place for groups and familys as well. You can have a candle light dinner at the nisches as well!!.

Review №102

2018-06-04 18:34:26

Fantastic food and great people here. Some of the best Ethiopian food you can get in the San Jose area. Definitely order the Kategna appetizer. Its a delicious dish you rarely see in Ethiopian restaurants.

Review №103

2022-11-26 16:47:12

Good veggie options, especially the veggie combo. Gluten free injera is available - good to call and confirm.

Review №104

2021-08-10 05:25:28

Food was great but waiters need to pay attention more when someone asks for something. I dont blame them too much though, it was busy. I Would recommend.

Review №105

2019-02-11 07:16:04

Disappointed with the food taste, there is lack of flavor. Went here after reading all the rave reviews. Injera a bit too sour for my taste. Have definitely had better food in this neighborhood. Staff is very friendly ambience is very nice and clean.

Review №106

2018-04-11 02:37:05

Really awesome food!! Great ambiance and excellent service too!!

Review №107

2019-06-15 04:36:17

Good food, good service and pleasant ambience inside the restaurant. Vegetarian combo was good for two people. 2 varieties of dhal, spinach and cabbage curry served with salad alongside injera bread which is the specialty of the cuisine.

Review №108

2016-03-06 02:22:31

My friends and I visited Kategna today lunch time. The restaurant is really clean, open and beautiful layout. We ordered Dulet, kitfo Special, shekla tibs, really very delicious and authentic Ethiopian foods. We also ordered Ethiopian Wine called Tej,really great and original. Oh, I dont want to finish my comment with out mentioning Ethiopia Coffee(Macheato), it is awesome coffee from the origin.Service is also great. All in all We loved itTry it, for sure you will love it!!

Review №109

2018-09-10 21:49:11

An authentic place, food is good and generous. Im a vegetarian, so I had the veggie combo, and I ate all of it. Atmosphere is nice. Nothing fancy, but nothing bad.

Review №110

2019-04-16 16:45:40

Excellent Ethiopian! Better than Zeni, best tibs in the south bay. Love their full Tef based injera which is more robust and flavorful than other places. Substantial servings, too. And (so far) theres not a wait!

Review №111

2017-03-05 17:34:38

Nice place, great food. The only thing I didnt like is that the foule we ordered came with French bread instead of injira (some other Ethiopian place serve it with injira and I love it). Injira is more delicious than the normal bread with foule.

Review №112

2022-04-01 07:56:04

Comfort food. Appetizers are quite tasty

Review №113

2016-02-29 01:48:35

The place is clean, the food is great. They also have great coffee. As far as service goes, the servers are sincere and attentive. Definitely a place to go and explore the menu.

Review №114

2021-01-17 17:21:25

Tasty dishes, very nice staff. Right now due to pandemic it is take out only. The place was very clean and pickup was easy and felt safe.

Review №115

2021-05-05 02:44:33

The best Ethiopian in the south bay! Everyone talks about Zeni, and dont get me wrong, Zeni is good but Kategna is straight fuego. The fish is an absolute must try!

Review №116

2019-02-18 02:50:15

Very friendly service. Meat platter + veggie platter are a great way to go. Delicious food.Edit: Lowered to two stars. Waiting for an hour for food is poor service.

Review №117

2020-06-04 22:22:57

I would recommend this place to taste the Ethiopian delicacy.Must try are Sambosa and coffee.Also the vegetarian combo is delicious and a must try with the fluffy injera bread.

Review №118

2019-12-24 03:41:49

Amazing food and great ambience. The vegetarian Combo is huge. Ended up with ordering 4 and shared family style with 6 people.

Review №119

2019-08-18 19:34:22

Good service. Easy to find. Food is good. Comfortable seating. Cozy ambiance. Can pay via card. Has a place to wash hands after eating.

Review №120

2019-11-21 22:48:52

Wonderfully homey Ethiopian food, made for Silicon Valley tastes. This well-hidden gem will charm with delicious food and amazing coffee.

Review №121

2019-11-09 00:55:15

They have really fixed this place up - is quite nice inside now, and they have a limited number of outside tables. The food is terrific, and the service is excellent. Highly recommended!

Review №122

2019-03-18 01:55:46

Pretty average for vegetarians. Healthy options, kategna is also as an appetizer their. I found it better than as anything else. Vegetarian options are generally boiled lentils or vegetables.

Review №123

2022-11-11 03:10:01

The worst Ethiopia restaurant we’re ever tried, it’s not seasoned the way it was supposed to be. Very disappointed!!

Review №124

2020-01-22 23:30:34

Good food. As always Ethiopian food is vegetarian friendly. Reasonably spacious. A tad hard to locate from the road.

Review №125

2018-07-17 03:13:01

Amazing food and amazing service! I am vegetarian and ordered the veggie combo and it was delicious. I’d recommend anyone try this place it’s absolutely great 10/10!

Review №126

2017-07-26 17:25:30

If you want authentic Ethiopian food in the bay area, this is where you should be.

Review №127

2023-01-07 19:26:38

All kind of food is so nice specially 🐟 fish goulash is amazing

Review №128

2022-11-29 16:07:14

Very lowkey atmosphere. The food is delicious and the staff is wonderful.

Review №129

2016-03-21 04:42:40

The highest quality traditional Ethiopian food in San Jose — a great place for a date or a large party. I look forward to eating here again.

Review №130

2023-01-17 03:32:46

Highly recommend and great value for money. Great food, clean, nice ambiance.

Review №131

2018-12-18 21:44:09

Elegant ambience inside. Friendly and peaceful service.Tried So far:Ye-Doro Wot (Chicken).Alcha Wot (Beef).Baklava.Try next time:SambusaMeat CombinationYeshekla TibsKitfo SpecialYe Timatim Fit FitGomen BesigaKik AlitchaShiro Wot

Review №132

2019-04-20 03:59:11

Beautiful decor, relaxing music. Staff was polite, attentive and helpful. The food was delicious. Try the honey wine and chicken tibs!

Review №133

2018-03-01 21:58:17

Delicious food and friendly service. Portions are huge. My girlfriend and I were happy with a single veggie sampler.

Review №134

2017-12-15 00:41:05

Best Ethiopian food. This was my third time there and the experience is the same, good Food, reasonable price and excellent customer service.

Review №135

2018-12-21 09:13:36

Delicious Ethiopian food. Friendly and efficient staff. Friendly management also. You feel very welcome in this restaurant.

Review №136

2018-03-11 15:10:43

Wonderful setting . Caring staff . Good but not great Ethiopian food . The Ethiopian Macciata coffee it is to die for

Review №137

2017-12-18 04:29:10

Delicious traditional food with friendly staff.

Review №138

2021-11-20 03:34:43

Missing items from the order and they did not issue a refund. Will never be coming back. I recommend to stay away from this place.

Review №139

2018-04-01 02:33:28

Amazing food and service. Atmosphere is perfect for dates or small meetings. Loads of parking and easy to find

Review №140

2021-07-02 20:46:22

Awesome: Ethiopian beer & wineGood: food taste, quality, portion & presentationBad: delivery & cleanliness of utensilsUgly: none

Review №141

2018-05-16 04:18:01

First time eating Ethiopian food. Food was delicious and service was fine. Great all-around experience

Review №142

2021-05-22 19:10:38

I had a wonderful experience. The hosts were truly hospitable and the variety of dishes were delicious.

Review №143

2017-04-30 18:56:55

Good Ethiopian food. Injera is a little too sour but tasty nevertheless. Try their house honey wine.

Review №144

2022-07-24 04:40:09

Food was good, but they are understaffed - super slow service for Saturday evening.

Review №145

2020-07-03 02:13:29

The very best east african restaurant in the south bay. Try the combo vegetarian or meat. You will not be disappointed. Try it!!!

Review №146

2020-10-10 19:01:30

Great place! The place is clean and the food was so tasty! I’ll will definitely be coming back. The service was great as well.

Review №147

2019-10-23 07:20:16

Very good, authentic food. Nice environment, and very accommodating staff. I definitely will be back!

Review №148

2018-01-07 18:05:00

The food is good, but the wait is looking. If you are ordering togo add additional 5-10 minutes to the time they give to you.

Review №149

2019-09-29 17:09:40

Service left a lot to be desired. Food was alright,had way better ethiopian food before though.

Review №150

2017-07-05 15:40:03

Amazing for vegetarians. Great ambience. Warm and friendly staff. Enjoy the coffee making process.

Review №151

2020-08-05 15:13:53

The spices in the food were good. I felt that Injera was too sour. Apart from Injera, I enjoyed the food.

Review №152

2023-04-23 06:42:16

Amazing food, Excellent customer service.

Review №153

2018-05-04 08:53:36

The best place for local foods. Any one who wanted to try ethiopian food this is a good choice.Parking is better at this branch

Review №154

2022-11-14 01:45:08

Excellent. Ive been to all 6 or so Ethiopian places in San Jose, and the food is top 1 or 2.

Review №155

2016-04-20 00:02:06

The food is yammy, the honey wine (tej) is bomb, the service is amazing specially the girl named Hanna the best server ever.

Review №156

2018-11-19 02:58:10

Food is delicious, staff is very friendly. Try the toasted injera appetizer--spicy & delicious!

Review №157

2022-03-16 03:56:04

Great Food! A little too quite for my taste though.

Review №158

2021-03-28 05:12:39

Generous proportions. Accommodating menu for vegans. Very delicious food!

Review №159

2020-10-02 16:38:18

The best Ethiopian dishes in town ..I love the service too amazing ...its an experience

Review №160

2016-08-15 19:06:00

Good food and ambient. Nice service. Average price for an ethiopian restaurant. I recommend the tibs.

Review №161

2016-03-27 20:28:25

Kategna had a very welcoming experience for my family and I. The food is the best in San Jose. I will be here often.

Review №162

2019-09-07 20:49:24

The Doro Wot was decent, but the veggie combo tasted watered down.The space is nice and clean.

Review №163

2018-08-23 02:01:49

I guess this is not my kind of food.

Review №164

2018-07-15 03:23:52

Gah! 😍 some of the best vegetarian Ethiopian dishes Ive ever had. 100% tasty.

Review №165

2019-12-31 03:42:09

Used to be my favorite Ethiopian restaurant but they let me make a reservation despite closing early. Theyve lost my business.

Review №166

2019-02-28 02:55:51

The best Ethiopian Restaurant in California. They deserve five stars.

Review №167

2019-02-23 05:21:01

This place has very good vegetarian options!Also the Etiopian tea is really wonderful!

Review №168

2018-12-02 06:00:22

Its a good option for non vegetarians. Good value for pallet and money. Calm ambience. Warm hospitality.

Review №169

2018-11-20 03:06:59

Delicious Juicy Fish Gulash, fantastic service keep it up. Kategna is the best place to eat fresh food

Review №170

2019-10-17 02:47:40

Very good food. Warm friendly staff. Try the house made Tej. Its amazing.

Review №171

2018-01-24 07:01:27

Great ambience, amazing food, excellent service... this place is clearly a hidden gem when it comes to Ethiopian food.

Review №172

2021-07-18 01:29:43

Very very good vegetarian dinner, and very very kind service. Well be back!

Review №173

2017-12-20 08:05:59

Nice place never tried Ethiopian food until now but will be coming back for more

Review №174

2022-04-30 20:40:56

Pleasant decor,great tasty food and value for the price.

Review №175

2019-09-16 23:13:49

Food was awesome, I liked the place and food, we should order while going to save time

Review №176

2020-09-22 04:07:56

Ordered vegetarian combo and sambusa. The food was pretty good.

Review №177

2021-05-15 14:45:45

Great place for Ethiopian food. Atmosphere is great as is the decor.

Review №178

2022-09-14 00:10:56

Very tasty food! Good service.

Review №179

2017-12-12 03:41:10

Very polite and helpful staff. Dinning room and bar are very clean and laid out well.

Review №180

2016-11-05 04:14:20

Kategna you have everything the food is great evreryather Friday and Saturday have live Ethiopian music by Bekele Tekola

Review №181

2020-03-10 01:45:05

Amazing food and service! Keep up the good work. Well be back soon.

Review №182

2018-04-12 20:16:39

Food is amazing and everyone is very friendly best restaurant Ive ever been to

Review №183

2019-09-22 02:56:51

I had been pleasantly surprised of the food being delicious and filling. Plus the service was on point!

Review №184

2016-10-01 16:56:44

It was authentic ethopian food. Very friendly host and feel at home presence at this place.

Review №185

2018-04-15 01:49:01

Great food and good place to go with the kiddos for an early dinner. We arrived at 5pm.

Review №186

2019-09-07 14:42:14

Yummy food! Both the chicken and beef dishes were great

Review №187

2017-07-11 13:46:31

Good Ethiopian restaurant. Plenty of parking and roomy inside. Love the food😊

Review №188

2018-03-31 04:09:22

Real delicious food. Friendly service, can be a tad slow when busy.

Review №189

2020-06-30 00:50:39

So much amazing flavor in the food! definitely a new favorite spot

Review №190

2021-08-10 19:31:56

It was a bad experience for me in term of waiting for our order. It tooks forever.

Review №191

2019-08-20 20:01:55

Very slow we ordered out lunch on the way to the restaurant 15 minutes to get there and we had to sit and wait almost 1 hour

Review №192

2019-06-11 20:19:58

Mediocre food and service. There are better Ethiopian food places in San Jose and Oakland.

Review №193

2021-10-06 23:31:43

Good restaurant, lot of vegetarian options. Recommend.

Review №194

2017-09-10 03:36:30

Good food, great people. My favorite Ethiopian restaurant.

Review №195

2017-04-01 04:40:31

So far the best Ethiopian food Ive ever had.

Review №196

2021-06-07 01:05:10

Great tasting food; friendly relaxed ambience.

Review №197

2017-02-23 02:37:26

Great Ethiopian food, beer and very good service!

Review №198

2018-07-26 19:18:00

The restaurant is a nice place to sit in and enjoy nice Ethiopian food.

Review №199

2018-02-11 22:41:43

Food is excellent and the service is awesome. Great enviroment.