New Eritrea Restaurant

Ask anyone who’s been in the city pre-FasTrak about New Eritrea and they’ll likely wax on and on for a good five minutes about their flaky sambusas. Or that one time they met their ex’s entire extended family at the Eritrean spot over gored gored and injera. The longstanding Sunset restaurant is an SF staple that’s consistently packed each night with coworkers, families, and couples on low-key dates. Have one meal in their glowy red space and you’ll see why. 

photo credit: Melissa Zink

For starters, the food never misses, and the menu has something for everyone—vegetarians, vegans, and the one friend who inhales meat like they’re doing their best impression of a ravenous hyena. You’ll spot the colorful house vegetable sampler (which is also all-vegan) on almost every table—the potatoes, okra, and split peas are well-spiced and comforting. Also hone in on the tumtumo, onion-y pureed lentils that pair perfectly with the tangy injera. Non-vegetable dishes, like the kitfo or saucy chicken and mushroom New Eritrea Special, are also worth your time.

The space is another reason to come to this spot. A meal here feels like getting buried in a ball pit filled with stuffed animals. Stained glass lamps keep the lighting to a cozy dim. Service is always efficient and warm, whether you’re rolling deep with ten friends or sliding up to the long bar for that vegetarian combo, even if it’s just for one. And if it’s your first visit to this institution, it certainly won’t be your last.

Food Rundown

photo credit: Melissa Zink

House Sampler

Going for the house sampler is the way to go since New Eritrea’s vegetarian dishes are fantastic, and all-vegan, too. The sampler comes with tumtumo, hamli, alicha, alich ater, okra, and shiro, and is hearty but won’t require you to knock out on a couch.

photo credit: Melissa Zink

New Eritrea Special

This sautéed chicken, mushroom, and onion dish will be the first thing to disappear from the platter. Get this on your table.

photo credit: Melissa Zink

Sambusa (Meat)

Perfect pockets of ground beef. Get ready to have your sambusa worldview permanently altered.