Lalibela Restaurant in Helmersbuurt

Really good food and a nice atmosphere

top ethiopian food!!!!! full of flavor and delicious. Service was charming too.

A warm and welcoming Ethiopian restaurant with rich, comforting flavors and generous platters. Great for sharing, with a relaxed atmosphere that makes for an enjoyable meal.

We had a wonderful experience here. The food was excellent, with fresh ingredients and great flavors in every dish. The staff were very friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout our visit, which made us feel comfortable from the moment we arrived. We were also dining with a small child, and the restaurant was very accommodating and family-friendly, making the visit easy and enjoyable for all of us. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of the food and service, offering outstanding value for money. We would definitely recommend this place and look forward to coming back again.

I've been coming here for about 25 years now and it's always a party. I hope to be able to enjoy Lalibel for a long time to come💞

It's not for me... Also 18€ for a scoop of minced meat is kinda wild

One of the finest eating places in Amsterdam.

An absolutely amazing experience! The food was incredible and with such a large portion size it truly was a wonderful meal. I will be back soon

Delicious, good service, and quick if you go at a time when there’s not a lot of other tables. Affordable for being central location and so good!! We got the sampler platter.

Very friendly service, and we had a really delicious meal. See you soon!

I have been coming here for several years because of the delicious food and friendly service. The only downside is the hygiene. The tables and chairs are sticky, as is the handrail. The cushions look like they haven't been washed for a long time, the toilet seat is loose, as is the tap, causing the toilet floor to get wet. The carpet is also a bit dated.

I love the African vibe in the interior !! it really took me back to my visits to Ethiopia and Africa in general. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the service was friendly. I would suggest they pay a bit more attention to the hygiene of the place, although maybe it was just because we came late ! The portions felt a bit small compared to the price, but still acceptable. I ordered two mixed dishes, one vegetarian and one non vegetarian, and they were served together on one plate. It was a bit confusing at first, but I guess that’s part of the authentic way of serving. The most important part, the taste, was honestly average. Not bad, but not something that really impressed me, so I was a bit disappointed. The Ethiopian beer was nice though. I’d also recommend adding an Ethiopian dessert option!! since there wasn’t any available. Overall, I really loved the vibe and the interior, and I’d definitely come back again, maybe earlier next time, to hopefully have a better food experience.

The ambience is great and the space is full of nice Ethiopian art

Nice place to try African cuisine, very pleasant service

Authentic and very tasty Ethiopian food, large selection, friendly service, good for sharing food with several people, many vegetarian options.

Everything I have ever ordered here is delicious! It takes a while to be served, but the wait is so worth it!! Recommend it for sure

Everything I have ever ordered here is delicious! It takes a while to be served, but the wait is so worth it!! Recommend it for sure

We wanted to try Ethiopian food for the first time, overall the host is great and the food was a nice experience.

This is the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Netherlands, and I have tried them all. Very welcoming people, delicious food and fantastic atmosphere.

We had a delicious meal here and the service was very friendly. There are also many vegetarian options.

Wonderful food (veg mix and cod) but extremely slow service. It took over an hour to get the food - a little upfront warning and an apology would’ve been nice rather than “it’s coming” after having waited 1h already. Go early, armed with lots of patience and you’ll eat well.

1000/10 every time. Grew up in East Africa eating lots of Ethiopian dishes, and this place hits home every single time. The family who runs this restaurant is so lovely, I always look forward to going! For meat eaters, Zegni & Lalibela special is where it’s at. For veggies, the pumpkin dish is amazing.

Delicious classic Ethiopian food in the oldest Ethiopian restaurant in the Netherlands. The service is super friendly, and everyone speaks the language. Classic injera pancakes and a coconut beer and honey wine. Fantastic!

Best restaurant !!! Highly recommend especially good for groups. We walked in when the kitchen was just about to close and the staff were so lovely and let us sit down anyway. Service was amazing, food was great. Lucky to live close by so will definitely be back!

Eat here!! Not only was the food incredible and full of flavor but everyone was so kind and welcoming. Will absolutely come back!!

I had an incredible experience at Lalibela! The food was absolutely delicious — so flavorful and authentic, it felt like a real taste of Ethiopia in Amsterdam. The injera was soft and perfect, and every dish was cooked with so much care and spice balance. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the service was super friendly. I left feeling happy and full definitely one of the best meals I’ve had in the city. Highly recommended!

Delicious Ethiopian food, definitely recommended. Sweet, friendly owners.

The service was not good. We had to go ourselves to get the waitress 3 times, who was on her phone and didn’t come by our table once. The food was good, but the lacking service was very disappointing. Only positive thing is the nice vegan options though.

top tent is on my list to repeat

One of the best meals I’ve ever had

Great atmosphere and delicious food

First time trying Ethiopian cuisine and it was such a unique experience! You’re supposed to eat with your bare hands… which made my first date kinda funny but also super cute, lol. 🤣 The food was tasty and the owner was absolutely lovely. The vibe of the place is cozy and welcoming. Definitely worth a visit!

Lalibela is a traditional Ethiopian restaurant, and wow—does it deliver. Prepare to dive into a culinary masterpiece eaten the authentic way—with your hands. Half the time I had no idea exactly what I was eating, but every bite was fantastic. The restaurant has a homey, welcoming vibe, almost like stepping into the owners’ home. It’s intimate, comforting, and full of flavor. We all left talking about how much we wished we could find something like this back in the States… but this feels like one of those special places you can only experience here. 😌

What a long wait. Delicious food. Hand-cooked. The Lalibela special with beef and the Begwot with lamb. Delicious! Paired with a Mongozo mango beer. Enjoyed Ethiopian coffee afterward. We'll be back. Everything is lactose-free.

Great small place with delicious food. We really like the spinach with fried and feta. Can't wait to eat it again!

Been wanting to check out Lalibela for awhile and it was absolutely delicious! Went for the spicy option and did not disappoint — full of rich, bold flavors. The food was fresh, super tasty, and beautifully presented. Make sure you wash your hands before you get the food 😉Great experience overall — recommend!

What a beautiful restaurant in Amsterdam. The food was undoubtedly fantastic and enjoyable. I would definitely come back and recommend people around this area to give it a try.

Honestly disappointed with my order from Lalibela Amsterdam. I paid €17.25 for a dish that had absolutely no flavor. No spices, no seasoning — quite the opposite of what I expect from Ethiopian cuisine, which is usually so rich and flavorful. Very disappointing for the price.

Went here in 2003 when on honeymoon with my wife and it's still one of the best meals I've ever had. Returning this summer, 22 years later with two teens. Can't wait..

Lalibela is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Amsterdam. Cultural interior design, Ethiopian music in the background, big portions, authentic flavors and plates. You’ll always find Ethiopians eating there. It is truly an experience, but it can only be that if you, as a customer, are willing to learn something new and fit in with the culture. You must eat with your hands because that is how Ethiopians enjoy their food. So do not expect Western service standards, those do not apply in an authentic restaurant like Lalibela. Go and enjoy the food with humility and an open mind. Cheers!

A cozy experience with delicious Ethiopian food! We had to wait a while for the food and drinks, but the atmosphere in the restaurant made up for it. The service was very friendly. Definitely recommended is the Kitfo Special (spiced beef with feta).

Great restaurant with Ethiopian cuisine. Very good food, plenty of it and super friendly staff. The price is also not bad. Recommended!

It’s a cute restaurant with good service and affordable pricing. My main problem is that a place with such legacy could have more comfortable interior design, and could lose some redundant decor like animal skin on the wall, better lighting and fresher furniture.

Word can not even begin to describe how good this place is

It's like a dragonfly ride, but in a culinary version.

My go-to and favorite restaurant in Amsterdam! Amazing food cooked and served by the friendliest people.

Delicious food. Super fun to eat together with a group!

Unfortunately, the pictures I took don’t do justice to the lovely, warm atmosphere of the restaurant—or the food. Beyond the unique experience of eating with hands and the deliciously unorthodox flavours, what really stood out was how surprisingly filling the meal was. I joked at the end about needing something more after, but not long after leaving I realised I was completely full—and that feeling only grew stronger. Such a satisfying experience overall!

This was our first experience with Ethiopian food. The style of eating was different than we’re used to (eating with our hands), but the spices and flavors were amazing. If you’re visiting Amsterdam I definitely recommend you check this place out. The mango and coconut beers were also really delicious. The service was a little slow, there was only one person serving and taking orders (not sure if this is the usual), so if your in a rush maybe come back another time. Overall great food!

Very tasty food and a nice experience for a reasonable price

Easily the best food I have had in Amsterdam. If you're deciding where to eat, stop looking, you've found it! The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the ambiance lovely.

The food was quite delicious and hit the spot when we were looking for Ethiopian food. Service was at times slow when they were very busy.

I've been coming here for years Authentic Ethiopian restaurant, run by incredibly friendly people

Very authentic atmosphere, distinct flavors, and friendly service. It was my first experience with an Ethiopian cousin. It was worth trying.

The best Ethiopian food with great service. Ambiance is fun and inviting.

Good food, good deserts, but the black coffee is outstanding.

Fantastic place, good food, nice people. I´ll always recommend and bring friends.

From the food to the service, everything was great! I loved the decoration inside and most of all the experience. The food was so tasty, the meat - I chose chicken and my friends chose beef - was so soft and juicy and loved their injera :) It's a bit pricey, but would definitely recommend!

As a lover of Ethiopian cuisine, I have already visited several restaurants in Amsterdam, but Lalibela stands head and shoulders above the rest for me. The food is simply delicious: the flavors are rich, authentic and perfectly balanced. The injera is always fresh and slightly sour, and the various stews, from the mild to the spicier varieties, are fantastically prepared. You can taste that real care and attention has been put into the dishes. The design of the restaurant contributes to the atmosphere: cozy, warm and authentically Ethiopian. The service is always friendly and helpful, with a smile that makes everything even more pleasant. Lalibela is without a doubt my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Amsterdam, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who enjoys good food and a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommended!

Food was kinda tasteless mush for the most part. Some of the pots of curry that came after were ok. Only one serviette and expected to eat with your hands. Service was also terrible, we had to ask for menus after more than 10-20 minutes and food took ages to come out. Even getting the bill took a long time. No apologies for slow service either. Nice decor though.

A very cozy and delightful Ethiopian restaurant, offering excellent service and a warm ambiance that makes you feel right at home.

Decent Ethiopian food. Place was close to full on Thursday night with a 7-people group coming in relatively late. You will either like or dislike Ethiopian food and the style of eating, I like it. Fruitful, very light beers are tasty.

Super tasty fresh food, very tasty and prepared with love. The way it is served is also traditional and an experience in itself. This also applies to the way of eating, you are not given cutlery, you eat it with traditional savory pancakes as a kind of roti plate. The price-quality ratio is surprisingly good and the atmosphere is very good.

This is definitely my favorite African restaurant, phaps even my favorite in general. I used to come here when i was little, now went again for my 18th birthday and it was just as good as i remember it!

DELICIOUS ethiopian food. So fun to eat with (close) friends and family

Tasty food, clean ambient, nice atmosphere and the staff very friendly, the two ladies that were running the business with very good energy! We loved

First time trying Ethiopian food, and I loved it. Everything was so flavorful and delicious. The mango beer served in a coconut shell is a must. Great service too. Definitely coming back!

Lovely place❤️ the food is amazing

Have been coming here for 27 years, always scrumptious. I like the new Mango beer too.

I am not saying the food is not good. But it is simply not my type. It is unhygienic that the food is supposed to be eaten with bare fingers but no hand sanitiser is provided.to the customers. Also the fact that the pancake is very soggy doesn't help with me feeling full after seeing how the food is shared with bare hands.

Very good food. Very friendly and fast service. Nice atmosphere.

Food is excellent, also the people serving, but waiting times are killing the five stars

Friendly service and overall nice atmosphere in the restaurant and very tasty food

Very tasty food from Ethiopia baste Restaurant is Lalibela!!!! And a small prize!!

My first time here (despite the continuous attempts of my gf to bring me here earlier) and i have to say that i absolutely loved it. Totally different experience. We order the several meat dishes to share and everything was very tasty very balanced flavors. Totally recommend :)

Lovely authentic Ethiopian food. Special beers and drinks. Affordable. Friendly service. Deserts need some work though, the choice is poor. So we went somewhere else for desert. We come regularly.

Everything was amazing. We are sad we can't live here and constantly eat delicious food and drink coconut beer 😁

Super tasty food for a bizarrely cheap price

Lovely. Lamb curry was really good.

I loveeeee Ethiopian food so much and I'm happy I got to have it again! So flavourful and it's fun to share and eat. The lamb and beef dishes are perfect. Love the decor in the restaurant as well!

First time eating Ethiopian food, and we we're blown away!! Definitely coming back for more :)

Delicious food, cozy decor, nice owners/service, and very affordable. Highly recommended!

super cute restaurant amazing food

Very tasty food, great service, lovely people, taste explosion. Literally the best restaurant in the world, no joke. Lalibela is the realest.

Wonderful place with unique atmosphere and great service.

Very tasty and traditional food.

Very tasty food and super friendly service. We will definitely go there more often!

Amazing food and excellent service!

Service was really good. Attentive, fast and funny. Thank you. We had a great dinner. Big bonus: open late!

Inviting atmosphere with friendly staff. The food was an amazing experience and we enjoyed every bite we had!!

First time trying Ethiopian food, and I absolutely loved it! Incredibly delicious food, can't wait to go back again.

Amazing food and service. Hidden gem!

We don't have a photo of the food, it was very tasty. This is the third African place I have tried in Amsterdam and by far the tastiest. Fresh ingredients and a nice interior. We will definitely come back.

It was a very pleasant surprise! The place is very well looked after, I loved all the characteristic furnishings. The service was impeccable, the waitress is very sweet. I was there on a Saturday evening, it's definitely important to book and above all to go there before you get hungry (we waited an hour for our dishes), but it's really worth it. It was my first time in an Ethiopian restaurant, but definitely not the last!!! I would also add that the prices are very low, I can't wait to go back.

Excellent ethiopian restaurant. The food was plenty and nice. People were friendly and prices very good!

Always delicious We normally share the vegetarian and the meat samplers and everything’s super lekker!

Fantastic dining experience. We ordered the mild and spicy versions of several meat and fish dishes and it was all fabulous. Very tasty and delicious. The banana beer and coconut beer was good too! Friendly service was much appreciated as well. Very affordable! Breads are gluten free.

Amazing food, great portions, and wonderful service! All in all, a great experience!

We've been coming here on and off for years. Very good food, and we prefer their injera to the other places nearby.

Super good Ethiopian restaurant in Amsterdam. A great discovery. There's soup and the white wine with honey flavor is super special.