Taste of Ethiopia

If you’ve never eaten Ethiopian, Taste of Ethiopia is the place to fix that — and if you have, you already know why it pulls a 4.7 across more than a thousand reviews. This family-run, self-described “women-powered” spot on Northwestern Highway serves the real thing: spongy, tangy injera you tear and use as both plate and utensil, scooping up deeply spiced stews and sautés — garlicky red lentils, collards, awaze tibs, and tender meat-and-vegetable combos piled on a communal platter meant to be shared with your hands and your people. It’s one of the best values around (a meat-and-vegetable feast for two runs less than a single entrée elsewhere), and it’s a dream for mixed tables: fully vegan-friendly, celiac-friendly, and halal, with fresh juices instead of a bar. The room is casual and warm, the service gracious, and the whole no-forks, no-rush experience is the kind of thing that turns a dinner into an event. On our list as Southfield‘s most joyful shared table.