Cafe Massawa Introduce
Welcome to Cafe Massawa, a true culinary gem nestled in the heart of New York City. For those seeking an unforgettable dining experience that goes beyond the ordinary, this restaurant offers a delicious journey into the rich and vibrant flavors of East Africa. Specializing in authentic Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine, Cafe Massawa is more than just a place to eat; it's a destination where tradition, flavor, and community come together. Owned and operated by women, and proud to be a Black-owned business, it's a spot that truly represents the diverse fabric of NYC's food scene. Whether you're a longtime fan of East African food or new to its unique delights, you'll find a cozy and casual atmosphere that makes you feel right at home. It’s perfect for a leisurely dinner with friends, a quick and satisfying lunch, or a comfortable solo dining experience.
Cafe Massawa is conveniently located at 3153 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA. Situated in a bustling part of the city, it’s easily accessible for locals and visitors alike. The restaurant is well-connected to public transportation, making it a hassle-free trip. For those driving, paid street parking is available in the surrounding area. The location is also designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, restroom, and seating, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a meal here comfortably. The neighborhood itself is vibrant and welcoming, reflecting the warm and inviting ambiance you'll find inside the restaurant. Its prime Broadway address places it right in the middle of the action, making it a perfect spot to grab a bite before or after exploring the city.
Cafe Massawa goes above and beyond to make sure your dining experience is as convenient as it is delicious.
- Dine-in: Enjoy the cozy, casual atmosphere and full table service inside the restaurant. Perfect for groups or intimate meals.
- Takeout: Can't stay? Order your favorite dishes to go and enjoy them at home or on the move.
- Delivery: For those days you want to stay in, the restaurant offers both standard delivery and no-contact delivery options, bringing the flavors of East Africa right to your doorstep.
- Curbside Pickup: A quick and easy way to grab your order without having to leave your car.
Cafe Massawa stands out for a variety of reasons, making it a favorite among New Yorkers.
- Authentic Cuisine: The menu features traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian dishes, from slow-cooked stews like Tsebhi Derho and Zigni to flavorful Tibs entrées.
- Vegan & Vegetarian Options: A standout feature is the extensive selection of vegan and vegetarian entrées, including Shiro, Timtimo, and Alitcha. The Vegan Sampler is a popular choice, allowing you to try a little bit of everything.
- Exceptional Coffee: The restaurant is known for having "great coffee." Ethiopian coffee is celebrated worldwide, and Cafe Massawa pays homage to this tradition, offering a coffee experience that is as rich and authentic as their food.
- Cozy Atmosphere: The ambiance is casual and cozy, making it an inviting place to relax and enjoy a meal with friends or family.
- Good for Groups: The restaurant is popular for groups, with a comfortable setting that accommodates shared meals and lively conversation.
- Desserts: Don't skip dessert! The Rum Raisin Cake has been singled out by customers as "divine," a perfect end to a flavorful meal.
- Honey Wine: Patrons rave about the honey wine, a traditional drink that offers a unique and memorable tasting experience.
For reservations, takeout, or delivery, you can reach Cafe Massawa at the following:
- Address: 3153 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA
- Phone: (212) 663-1800
- Mobile Phone: +1 212-663-1800
Cafe Massawa offers a genuinely unique and rewarding dining experience that is well worth choosing for your next meal out. The authenticity of the food is a primary draw. The menu is a comprehensive exploration of East African flavors, from the savory Tsebhi stews to the sizzling Tibs dishes, all served with traditional injera bread. The abundance of options for different dietary needs, particularly the extensive vegan and vegetarian menu, ensures that everyone in your party will find something they love. It’s not just an afterthought here; the vegan dishes are as flavorful and complex as their meat counterparts.
Beyond the food, the atmosphere is a significant reason to visit. Described as casual and cozy, it creates a relaxed environment perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of city life. The service is often praised by customers as "polite," "heartwarming," and "outstanding," which makes a huge difference in the overall dining experience. The staff’s friendliness and knowledge about the menu can help guide you through the selections, making you feel more connected to the culinary culture.
Customer reviews consistently highlight the quality and value, mentioning that while some dishes may seem "a bit pricey," they are "worth it for a fresh meal that has flavor." This speaks to the high-quality ingredients and careful preparation that go into every plate. The "great coffee" is a highlight for many, serving as a perfect bookend to the meal. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick bite or planning a full-course dinner with friends, the consistent quality, warm service, and authentic flavors make Cafe Massawa a top choice. It's a place where you can discover new dishes, enjoy comforting classics, and feel a part of the vibrant New York food community.
Cafe Massawa Food & drink
CAKE
- Rum Raisin Cake $7.00
Jamaican style Rum Raisin with crushed pecans, walnuts
Apps & Small Plates
- Sambusa
Pastry shells fried with your choice of minced spiced chicken or lentils in cardamom and herbs (2 pieces to an order)
- Quesadilla
Berbere marinated steak cubes, jack cheese, flour tortilla
- Wings $13.00
Berbere flavored hot wings (10 pieces to an order)
- Lamb Quesadilla $17.00
Spicy pulled lamb, jack cheese, flour tortilla
- Berberata Salad $15.50
Burrata, berbere infused olive oil, arugula, sourdough toast
- Mixed Green Salad $11.50
Tomatoes, cucumbers, homemade vinaigrette
- Mitmita Fries $7.00
Hint of mitmita spice
- Shrimp Quesadilla $17.00
Berbere seasoned shrimp, jack cheese, flour tortilla
- Mushroom Quesadilla $14.00
Tsebhi Entrees (Slow Cooked Stews)
- Tsebhi Beghe $27.00
Boneless lamb chunks slow cooked in onions, homemade butter, spices
- Tsebhi Derho $26.00
Braised chicken drumsticks tenderly cooked in butter, tomatoes, berbere served with hard boiled egg
- Zigni $25.00
Small cubes of beef slow cooked in a thick sauce of onions, tomatoes, berbere spice
Tibs Entrees
- Beef Tibs $24.50
Beef cubes sautéed in onions, tomatoes, peppers, berbere
- Tebsi Derho $24.50
Boneless chicken breasts sautéed in onions, tomatoes, peppers, berbere
- Salmon Tibs $25.50
Salmon cubes sautéed in onions, tomatoes, berbere
- Shrimp Tibs $24.50
Suatéed shrimp in. onions, tomatoes, berbere
- Mushroom Tibs $22.50
Portobello mushrooms sautéed in onions, tomatoes, berbere
- Dereq Tibs $24.50
Crispy stir fried steak, caramelized onions, peppers
Vegan Entrees
- Shiro $23.00
Creamy puréed split peas, slow cooked in tomatoes, onions, herbs, spices
- Timtimo $22.00
Red lentil stew cooked tenderly in tomatoes, ginger, berbere
- Alitcha $23.00
Ensemble of potatoes, carrots, cabbage baked in turmeric
- Birsin $22.00
Spicy brown lentils simmered in garlic, tomatoes
- Vegan Sampler For 1 $25.00
Sampler for 1 of all vegan entrees
Extras
- Extra Injera $1.75
- Side Of Rice $3.00
Dessert
- Rum Raisin Cake $8.50
Jamaican style Rum Raisin with crushed pecans, walnuts
Meat Entrées
- Tsebhi Derho $17.50
Braised chicken drumsticks tenderly cooked in butter, tomatoes, berbere served with hard boiled egg
- Zigni $16.50
small cubes of beef slow cooked in a sauce of onions, tomatoes, berbere
- Beef Tibs $17.00
Beef cubes sautéed in onions, tomatoes, peppers, berbere
- Chicken Tibs $16.50
Boneless chicken breasts sautéed in onions, tomatoes, peppers, berbere
- Shrimp Tibs $17.00
Suatéed shrimp in onions, tomatoes, berbere
- Salmon Tibs $18.00
Salmon cubes sautéed in onions, tomatoes, berbere
Vegan Entrées
- Shiro $16.50
Creamy puréed split peas, slow cooked in tomatoes, onions, herbs, spices
- Timtimo $16.50
Red lentil stew cooked tenderly in tomatoes, ginger, berbere
- Alitcha $17.00
Ensemble of potatoes, carrots, cabbage baked in turmeric
- Birsin $16.00
Spicy brown lentils simmered in garlic, tomatoes
- Vegan Sampler $18.00
- Mushroom Tibs $17.50
Small Bites
- Chicken Sambusa $8.00
- Lentil Sambusa $7.00
- Fries $7.00
Cafe Massawa Details
From the business
- Identifies as Black-owned
- Identifies as women-owned
Service options
- Curbside pickup
- No-contact delivery
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Great coffee
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
Crowd
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Paid street parking
Cafe Massawa Photos










Cafe Massawa Location
Cafe Massawa Reviews
eritrean cuisineinjeraatmosphereethiopian foodlunchavocado toastwothoney winerum raisin caketibs
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Simply outstanding food and service. The coffee and teas were excellent. The food was amazing. The deserts were outstanding too. The service was just heartwarming. Great value for your money to! The bean appetizer, chicken drumsticks and beef dishes were to die for. The carrot cake and rum soaked cake were divine!
September 10 · Sandeep MalhotraPolite service, delicious food this was my first time having this dish and it was amazing! I would definitely come again. Just a bit pricey but worth it for a fresh meal that has flavor. Also the honey wine is the best wine I have had!!
July 25 · Pastel RainThe owner is a very welcoming, polite, and hard working guy. He made sure our experience there was nothing short of exceptional. The injera was amazing! They have vegan options, as well. In photo: Beef Tibs, Shiro, and Alitcha
June 22 · J TCame for lunch and got the zigni with timtimo and green salad. Outstanding. Service was faster than I am accustomed to in an Eritrean restaurant and I really appreciated that! Reasonably priced for how much food you get. I will definitely come back when in NYC. My only complaint is that they had a vegan sampler, but not an omnivore sampler. I like to get one for myself and eat on it for days 🙂 No liquor license yet.
July 25 · Molly DarraghGot the quesadilla and a meat + 2 vegan entree combination. You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes, honestly. Hearty, savory stews served with light, tangy injera!! And we got a rum raisin cake with coconut ice cream for dessert, naturally.
July 16 · Anwen Paul
More restaurants near me

210 W 94th St, New York, NY 10025, USA

2518 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, USA

700 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA

687 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA

2501 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, USA

694 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA

676 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA

2496 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, USA

668B Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA

Gennaro Restaurant, 665 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025, USA

2481 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, USA

2490 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, USA
Categories
Top Visited Sites






Trending Dining Insights Posts





