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Massawa Restaurant since 1988 - Massawa - NY, New York, NY

Massawa - NY

4.8
4.8
168 Reviews
$30 and under
African

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 12 times today
  • Vegetarian-friendly
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Massawa in NY has been proudly serving the community since 1988. It has provided a full and fantastic menu, which has helped to strengthen the continued popularity of the eatery. The restaurant offers up a wealth of quality Ethiopian and Eritrean food, which is served traditionally and eaten by hand. Options on the menu at Massawa include appetizers such as vegetable sambuusa, beef sambuusa and ful. Some of the other popular menu items include tebsi, kitfo and zegini. The restaurant has beef, lamb, poultry and seafood. In addition, Massawa provides options for vegans. A range of wines and quality beers are available at the restaurant as well.

Additional information

What 168 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • New York City

    Healthy

  • Manhattan

    Healthy

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Massawa in NY offers "excellent vegetarian choices" and "amazing food, service, ambiance, and value." Guests appreciate the "attentive and knowledgeable" staff and the "wonderful and authentic Ethiopian food." It's "great for vegans" with "delicious, well-seasoned dishes" and a "lovely cozy vibe." Highly recommended for an "excellent experience."

168 Reviews
  1. OpenTable Diner

    Chicago1 review

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    Horrible service. Food came out cold. Flavors are good, but there’s probably better Ethiopian places to go to. 

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  2. Sofia

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you're looking for good Ethiopian food in Manhattan, I highly recommend this spot. The ambiance is great, the service is spectacular, and it's just the right size for great vibes but also coziness. I go here often with my family, and with friends, and the chicken sambusas are to die for.

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  3. Anonymous

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The nicest staff and delicious food with lovely atmosphere!

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  4. Holly

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    You won't find better Ethiopian than in this place. Have been coming here for 16yrs and return again and again because the flavors are just right. Loved by the community but never crowded, and you will never be rushed from your table. The menu and prices have changed slightly over the years, but I appreciate the more lunch option they've continued to provide. Best African comfort food & atmosphere in Harlem there is.

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  5. Joshua

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on January 30, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent restaurant food ambience and service! Highly recommended!

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  6. Ranjit

    Dallas12 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on January 2, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    This was our 2nd time eating at Massawa and it did not fail us. Very tasty Ethiopian food. Friendly staff and a nice simple ambiance.

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  7. Shourin

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on December 8, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really cool place. Had a mixed platter with tibs, shiro, gomen which was really satisfying. The wait staff is very friendly. All in all a great experience.

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  8. Holly

    London2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on December 7, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Massawa is absolutely terrific. We were a group of five and shared the vegan and meat platters. Everything was delicious, especially the lamb stew and red lentil dish. They were very accommodating of my daughter who has celiac disease. Thoroughly enjoyable meal!

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  9. Adam

    London1 review

    5.0

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely experience, great vibe, delicious food, and we were never rushed

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  10. Marlene B

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on November 17, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, service, and ambiance! We plan on returning.

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FAQs

Massawa - NY offers delivery in partnership with Postmates. Massawa - NY also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (212) 663-0505.

Massawa - NY is rated 4.8 stars by 168 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 12 times today
Google Map for Massawa - NY

1239 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    African
  • Hours of Operation
    Daily 11:30 am–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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