Cuisine: Ethiopian

Stretford, as I may have mentioned before, is not the most happening part of Manchester, so I was quite surprised to hear through the vegan grapevine that it was home to an Ethiopian restaurant with vegan options. The restaurant is not in the most appealing or accessible location, even by Stretford’s standards, but the food was top notch and if you’re in the area you should definitely stop by.

When we were arrived, we were told that all the vegetarian options were also vegan. So we ordered the spring rolls (are they Ethiopian?!), and were given some bonus samosas too! Both were really good and crispy, with the samosa filling a bit more exciting but a bit spicier.

We accidentally over-ordered out of confusion. We got this bowl of shiva, which was a thick, rich, bean stew. Dr HH loved it and described it as “warming”; after three mouthfuls I was on fire and couldn’t taste anything else. If you’re similarly averse to spicy dishes, this one may not be for you!

And we also ended up with this big mixed injera plate containing lots of food. There was some quite standard veg – potatoes, carrots, beetroot, and cabbage – alongside some more exciting stews – chickpeas and spinach, a kind of spicy lentil ragu, and some saucy mock meat – and some staples – rice, crusty bread, and injera. The veg was a wee bit boring, but everything else was really exciting and beautifully seasoned! I always relish the opportunity to try lots of different things like this.

All in all, it was a lovely, unlikely little spot. Service was super friendly too, and we’ll be happy to go back next time we’re home. I’d never had Ethiopian food until I went vegan, but now I’m a big fan of it. When we’re travelling we always keep an eye out for an Ethiopian spot, because we seem to be guaranteed good vegan options there. And they are never stingy with the injera!

Do you agree that Ethiopian is one of the best cuisines for vegans?