Bunna Cafe

this place is perfect!! the decor is beautiful, the staff are so kind and welcoming, and the food is delicious!!<br><br>we got the meal with 7 scoops, which we found was enough for two people. lovely place, will go back!!

Vibe was on 10 servers were attentive, food was fresh & flavorful.

Wow the quality and the price point is amazing. The variety of vegetables. I would 10/10 go back. The sambusa was so flavorful. We ordered the combo for 3 people and us 4 barely made a dent. We had leftovers to go! We were able to get seated early on a Friday at 6:30 no reservation but this place fills up quickly. They have a happy hour until 7pm

It was disappointing. I’m upset because the reviews are so high, but maybe I should have read the critical reviews instead!<br><br>Minus one star for weird service. When we arrived, the restaurant was relatively empty. We made eye contact with the server several times, but nobody took our order until we had been waiting for 13 entire minutes.<br><br>Minus one star for meh food. I’ve had vegan and non-vegan Ethiopian food before and my companion is Ethiopian. We both thought the stews were not as flavorful as expected. Additionally, the injera had a curious texture due to the high gluten content from the teff being adulterated with barley flour. The sambusas were alright but served with an inauthentic sauce. The tosign was too heavy on the thyme.<br><br>Minus one star for the uncanny leftover packing method. First of all, the waiter watched us struggle for a bit before offering to help. What makes beyaynetu unique and special is that each stew gets its own spot on the injera. The waiter just dumped everything into the box, allowing the stews to mix. This is so disrespectful to Ethiopian cuisine.<br><br>Minus one star for the price. It was $52 for the beyaynetu feast for 2 and $18 for 4 sambusas. This is more than other Ethiopian restaurants in the city. Additionally, upon checkout, tip was calculated on total, not subtotal. This high pricing is characteristic for the clientele and neighborhood, but I foolishly believed this higher price point would correlate with a superior dining experience. Clearly I was wrong.

I was very excited to try this place, as Ethiopian food is my favorite cuisine! The staff members were all incredibly kind and sweet! A few things..<br>-The music was unbearably loud. And since it was so loud, everyone had to yell to hear each other, which just made it worse. It was very difficult to relax and enjoy my dinner there because of that.<br>-When I had returned from the restroom, I saw a plate of food at my seat, and I was so happy! I took a few pictures of the plate and just as I was about to eat, the plate was taken away from me because it was actually for someone else. I understand that things happen, but since it was Ramadan and it was already well past iftar time, I was so sad and almost felt like it was taking candy away from a baby, lol.<br>-Also, they need to fill up their soap dispensers with actual soap instead of watering it down, lol. It was hard to actually clean your hands well before and after eating (you are eating with your hands, after all) due to the watered down soap.<br>-Finally, the food was okay. It was not the best Ethiopian food I have had, as some of the injera was quite dry, some of the dishes lacked flavor, and the portions were rather small for the price. I will say that the baklava was delicious and I loved the coffee infusion!

I’m a visual person and I love how colorful the foods are. But more than just visuals, the taste is supreme! I come here a lot when I crave for something delicious and healthy. The staff is always kind and friendly. This restaurant is a true neighborhood gem! I usually come for their Beyaynetu, but their brunch menu is also mind blowing! I LOVE the Butecha to the moon and back. It’s flavorful, textured and light and healthy! I devoured the cashew ergo in seconds as they are crazily delicious!

First time having Ethiopian food, especially vegan. My experience was nothing short of amazing. The Beyaynetu, was delicious. The injera surprised me, it was slightly acidic and a bit tart, but it paired WELL with all the other sides. I got the $26 Beyaynetu (shared amongst 3 people), except the kale and beets option. This is how vegan food should taste. All the sides had their own flavor profile and even with mixing them, nothing overpowered the other! The sambusa with red lentils, were amazing, crispy skin, the lentils were cooked perfectly, not too hard, not too mushy, had a bite to it. The pepper sauce it came with set it off, a bit of spice as well. Shai correnti (Ethiopian hot toddy) was strong, made me feel nice. The Pushkin was delicious, and the powdered pot on top was so cute! Servers were so nice, the vibe of this place is 10/10. They played Ethiopian music, the decor and book shelves. The lighting. And the place was clean, the bathroom was especially clean. I will be back!

Phenomenal place! Ver tasty vegan Ethiopian dishes, along with delicious coffee and spicy tea. Wonderful and attentive service. Went for brunch and the live DJ just enhanced the whole experience so much! Highly recommend!

I have gone here occasionally over the past several years and the food is always wonderful. I went today for lunch because it's Sigd and I wanted vegan food. The kale was amazing. The others really tasty too.

First time trying Ethiopian food and I’m glad it was at Bunna Cafe because this place was stellar! Absolutely loved the ambiance, service, and most importantly the food.<br><br>They start you off with a free plate of popcorn to snack on while you wait for your food which was so fun. Also, I happened to be in during their weekend Bunna Coffee Ceremony so I had a complimentary cup of the Bunna. It was very strong, spiced, and rich, with a prominent ginger undertone. Adding in the brown sugar cubes opened up the flavor so much. Delicious!<br><br>I tried the Lentil Sambusas which were super crispy. The filling inside was fine but adding on that cilantro lime sauce really tied it all together! There was a subtle spice too that I enjoyed.<br><br>For my main I went with the Beyaynetu Meal which was the 5 scoop option. I kinda wanted to go for the 7 scoop Feast to try more things but I’m glad I didn’t because the 5 scoop was very sizable for one person! I tried the Enguday Tibs, Shiro, Misis Wot, Yater Kik Alicha, and the seasonal option which was an Eggplant and Walnut Deberjan. WOW!!! Everything was so insanely flavorful and worked well with each other. I think my two favorites were the Shiro and the Yater Kik Alicha. Soooooo so so good I could eat a whole bowl of just those.

From the moment I stepped into Bunna Cafe, I was completely charmed. Tucked away in Brooklyn, this all-vegan Ethiopian spot radiates warmth and culture, and an inviting, communal vibe. They even host an authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony in the evenings, which adds to the immersive feel.<br><br>The staff was wonderful, warm, welcoming, and happy to answer questions about the menu and traditions. We kicked off our meal with Kategna, a crispy, toasty injera snack paired with Daata, a spicy side sauce that delivered just the right amount of heat. Simple, but incredibly satisfying.<br><br>Next came the highlight: the Feast. It’s a platter of injera topped with vibrant scoops of various stews and vegetables. Each one was distinct, bursting with flavors. The crimini mushrooms were earthy and umami-rich, the lentils hearty and beautifully spiced, and the collard greens brought a fresh, slightly tangy contrast. The Shiro, a spiced chickpea stew, was deeply comforting and packed with flavors. Honestly, it was impossible to pick a favorite.<br>Every bite felt thoughtful, nourishing, and made to be shared. I sipped on refreshing Hibiscus tea throughout the meal, which was the perfect complement to the bold, warming flavors.<br><br>Bunna Cafe is a celebration of Ethiopian cuisine and culture. Fun, flavorful, communal, and deeply satisfying. I’ll definitely be coming back.

This was my first Ethiopian cuisine experience and I loved that they don't give you utensils for the full effect! The food isnt really a looker if you're not into pureed food, but the taste was delightful! Highly recommend and for any vegans or vegetarians craving some hearty food. I have gone 2 times now and they are just as good! The interaction (bread) they have is tangy and slightly sour.

The food is good, but the portions are too small. I paid $21 for this. Is literally like sample sizes and the worst part is you’re not going to get full because the portions are very small. I feel like I could’ve went to chipotle or any other vegan place in New York that gives you a nice portion for like $12 or $15.

Unfortunate that I finally found a go-to/favorite Ethiopian place in the city a few weeks before going home for the summer. It took some time to get here but I was very committed to procrastinating my homework, and if you're an ethiopian restaurant offering me a vegetarian combo there's really no limit to how far I'll travel for that. I got the feast for two (though I am only one. Next night dinner. It's called being smart) and apparently they offer this to go in a pizza box which is very smart and fun however I worried it would be clunky for the subway so instead I got a million containers of greatness. My photographs as always are of dubious quality, but rest assured the food was not.<br><br>The injera, thank god again, was sour, I hate when it's bland but this was far from it, the perfect vessel for all of everything. I don't know all the names of the dishes but I loved everything I ate. The mushrooms stood out, I love gomen, the split peas and red lentils were doing their thing, something was spicy and idk what it was but it was ASTOUNDING I say really the whole meal I was just thrilled with so I had it again that weekend and loved it just as much. When I picked up my orders both times! The person working was friendly and warm and unbelievably kind, I'll have to dine in next time because I imagine the service is top notch. I'm going to enjoy my summer away from the easy coast but I will say, this spot will be on my mind and I'm looking forward to being reunited with the greatness that is Bunna Cafe.

I had some business in the area and want something to eat and thought about Bunna! I had no reservations and had about a 20-30 minute wait on a Saturday night.<br><br>I am now convinced this is the BEST Ethiopian place for great vegetarian food! The place was packed even as late as I arrived. Very warm and accommodating staff.<br><br>The food was so on point! We ordered drinks as well and just as amazing as the food!<br><br>It is a little out of my normal area but I will surely go out of my way to get back here again.