Queen Sheeba

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916 E John St
Seattle, WA 98102

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(206) 322-0852
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Queen Sheeba - Seattle, WA
Queen Sheeba - Seattle, WA
Queen Sheeba - Seattle, WA
Reviews
( 14 )
( 19 )
( 3 )
( 5 )
( 3 )

Best

Great food, big quantities. A bit oily, but that only means you can re-heat the order for the next day and it'll still be moist and tender.

Worst

Not enough vegetarian menu items as compared to other Ethiopian places. Food was just okay - mostly bland. The cabbage was undercooked. They had NO Ethiopian coffee even though it...

I went here again after a 3 year break. First time I went... 7/29/2007

Olga Provided by Partner
I went here again after a 3 year break. First time I went with my coworkers my first summer in Seattle, and I was amazed with the food. This time i... more
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Really good ethiopian food 6/5/2007

This place is fantastic... just make sure you go at the right time. We went and luckily got the last table... more
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Really good ethiopian food 6/5/2007

This place is fantastic... just make sure you go at the right time. We went and luckily got the last table... more
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Really good ethiopian food 6/5/2007

Traci Provided by Partner
This place is fantastic... just make sure you go at the right time. We went and luckily got the last table open for dinner and proceeded to watch t... more
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Good African grubs 2/21/2007

This place is not as bad. It is on the cheap side (price wise) and therefor one cannot expect impeccable service, but overall we were very happy. You almost get the feeling of these guys/girls just having started and they are stappling a bit, but that is also part of the charm.\r Rating gets this high because of their low prices and ""happy"" amateursim (in its best sense). more
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awful service 11/11/2006

My wife and I went here after around 3-4 months and looks like everything's completely changed.. The service used to be really good and they would always try to find a place for you even if it was packed. It was Saturday evening and we weren't even acknowledged for about 20 minutes. A waitress just smiled at us and walked away. We could see at least 2, 4 person tables but there was no hostess in sight and nobody came to even ask us anything. Finally , we just walked away from this place and went a couple of blocks east to Kokeb, another ethopian place. Very disappointed - this place used to be favorite of mine. Cons: Dreadful service more
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Poorly seasoned 11/11/2006

Maybe we got there late...\r We waited for about 20 minutes before we were even acknowledged by the staff.\r When we sat down, it took 10 minutes to get our waters, at which point we were expected to order.\r the vegetable rolls were good...the other food was over seasoned; very salty and the flavors lacked the complexity I was expecting...they were very 1 dimensional.\r I had to ask two times for a coffee, and we waited for at least 15 minutes to get refills on water (the food is somewhat spicey)\r I don't know if all Ethiopan food tastes like this, or if we had a bad nite...Keep in mind, I have a very open palatte, and the food just didn't do anything for me. Also, halfway through dinner, they started cleaning with this VERY powerful lemon spray the tables around us, which almost over powered the taste of the meal...This was 9:30 on a Friday night. Pros: nice decor, friendly staff (when available) Cons: everything else more
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Disappointing service 11/6/2006

We love Ethiopian food and had been looking forward to going to Queen Sheeba. When we arrived, we found no obvious place to wait to be seated (there's a lower level but the staff can't easily see people there). We walked in to an area that looked like a place to perhaps check in and were told to go back down the stairs to wait and were given no time estimate. We waited and waited despite there being several 4-person tables open -- perhaps we didn't get them because we were only 2, but there was no one else waiting. We eventually left, apparently without notice. The food did smell good. more
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Well worth it 9/20/2006

Good Ethiopian spot away from the Ethiopian district. Great food & service w/ a small warm restaurant feel. more
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Great food - a little too cozy 9/4/2006

Veggie and Meat eaters won't be disappointed by their experience at Queen Sheeba's. We ordered one meat plate and one veggie plate and were delighted with both. I couldn't tell you exactly what everything was, but there was't anything left on the plate when we were done. Lots of flavor and spices in each dish. \r My only issue is the restaurant is fairly small and they do pack the people in. Pros: Spicy foods, great flavors Cons: Crowded dining room more
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Awesome Vegetarian food 4/3/2006

(& the non-vegetarian is supposed to be great too) I love the bamia & the miser wot here; and the bread -- injera -- is brilliant! Yummmy. The restaurant is never too crowded, and the ambience + service is good too. Most people I know have liked this place a lot too; just try to get something with a bit of gravy; the dry stuff isn't as good. Their desert menu isn't too extensive, though. Pros: Food, Value Cons: Parking, Desert menu more
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Authentic Ethiopian food 10/23/2005

This restaurant serves great authentic Ethiopian food. I recommend sharing dishes as there is a lot to experience. Whenever I visit a restaurant, we always share dishes so that we can experience more flavors and dishes. The tepp bread is a staple in Ethiopian food and is awesome for a change from the regular breads. Some of the dishes are a little too oily but overall it is awesome for and African experience. more
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Great food good value 4/16/2005

We love this place. It is well decorated, and it may not be romantic, but it still a good place for a date if she/he does not like digging into piles of delicious food hands first, the funky decor, and often eclectic Africanesqe mix of music, then he/she is not worth it anyway! The food is very good standard Ethiopian fare, presented well, in a good atmosphere. If you are looking for value, they have a Vegetarian combo plate, and a Meat combo plate, each of which comes with moderate helpings of 4-5 different items. One of these combo plate is enough to feed two people (for about $10, if I remember correctly.). Add an appetizer if you are worried. Pros: Tasty, Cheep combo plates, relaxed more
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Wonderful first experience 3/16/2003

I recently enjoyed my first experience at Queen Sheeba, and would certainly recommend this restaurant to others. The food was delicious, and the service prompt and friendly. I personally enjoyed the ambience--a very ""homey"" feel. Our group was delighted with all the dishes we ordered, and I recommend trying the honey wine! Pros: Exotic, Peaceful more
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Great for Groups & Couples 1/27/2003

I am a first timer to an Ethiyopian restaurant. Learning about the concept of community eating was very exciting. It is so arranged that side dishes are shared by groups of 2 or 4 in a large plate ( that almost covers the table breadth wise. Then you guys have to dig in. Food is spicy and great ! The spicy Chicken legs are the best. They have some very good lamb dishes too. Most of my groups was vegetarians. They too found some exciting dishes. So Great if you are a group of mix and matches too... Pros: good people, spicy food, great value Cons: so-so ambience, downtown parking more
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Quite decent 11/19/2002

There's a theory that a city can't rightly call itself a city unless it supports at least one Ethiopian restaurant. Seattle has a few (a couple around the south end of Seattle U) but I wasn't very impressed with them. Queen of Sheeba, however, rates pretty good for Seattle. One of the keys for first time Ethiopian dining is the food is so freakin' weird looking (mounds of green/brown goop) many people need the comfort level of nice decor. Queen of Sheeba is quite beautiful inside and the food is respectably good. The only down side is Ethiopian is traditionally some cheap eats (hence why it's popular with university students). Queen of Sheeba is a bit pricey for Ethiopian. Pros: nice decor, quality food Cons: bit pricey, not enough goop more
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Spicy and FUN! 9/17/2002

We love going here for great food and excellent service. The atmosphere is casual and comfortable. The food is incredibly good and a wonderful value! Pros: spicy and fun Cons: parking more
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Spicy and Unique 7/31/2002

If you are looking for a romantic restaurant, avoid this place, but if you want a fun unique experience look no further. Like most Ethiopian restaurants, the food is spicy and you eat with your hands, so get ready for a unique experience. We had the lamb and the chicken and it was simply delicious! Can't wait to go back. Pros: Food, Price Cons: Messy more
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Love this place 6/20/2002

This is consistantly good food and friendly service. I love this place! more
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Menu for Queen Sheeba


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World Class Ethiopian Cuisine Right in the Heart of Seattle!

Owner Message

  • Unlike Western culture, Ethiopians place importance on communal dining traditions. Diners eat from a common platter, and the breaking of bread together takes on a strong social significance, for it is considered essential to maintaining loyal bonds, and friendship. An example of this is the custom of GURSHA; GURSHA means "mouthful" and refers to placing food in another's mouth, usually a gesture of friendship or affection.
    Ethiopian cuisine is brought to life with the addition of special spices that gives each dish its flavor. MITMITA and BERBERE are two common spice mixtures used in Ethiopian cooking. Staple foods for most Ethiopians are INJRERE and WOT. WOT is a stew that usually contains a pepper mixture and can be prepared from meats, vegetables. INJERA is a type of unleavened bread with a spongy texture, made from TEFF, a grain similar to wheat.

Editorial

  • Use your hands to eat traditional Ethiopian food in this small converted house on Capitol Hill.

  • 2/7/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: 4-11 p.m. Wednesday-Friday & Monday; 4-7 p.m. Tuesday; 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, Cash, American Express, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Broadway, Capitol Hill
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