Yaaaaaaaas. I'm so glad Little Africa exists in GR and serves up excellent Ethiopian food. I happily shared a platter with friends and would happily share one again. It's the best way to try all the things! Also, the tea is *incredible* and cannot be passed up. I was so impressed that I ended up buying a bag of loose tea (Iwas informed it was a different blend, but it was still worth $15).

Updating my review to note that as of October 2024, you can use a credit card to pay at Little Africa! This is really convenient and I hope it gets them more business. I met with three friends for dinner recently and we got the group platter for 4. It comes with all of the different dishes, including lentils, soy curry, greens, salad, and even two seasonal dishes - one with beets and one with squash. We all agreed that the squash was one of our favorites! I also got the Ethiopian tea, which is a warm fruity spiced tea that is perfect for fall. The ambience is homey, and service can be a bit slow as it is usually just the owner working and maybe one other person. That said, it's a wonderful spot and I always love the food, which is all vegetarian and vegan friendly. I'm not vegan but I'm always satisfied and I love the variety. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Little Africa! (Sidenote, I would still recommend calling ahead to confirm they're open.)

Cute little restaurant with about 10 tables. Cash only. Tea is sweet and delicious.. a fall drink for sure. The guy working was super nice, somehow handing the front and the back of the house at once.

My favorite restaurant in GR. Hands down. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and dairy free, super affordable, and packed with delicious flavor you can't find anywhere else. I've taken my whole family here on multiple occasions, and ask friends to meet me here whenever I'm in town. Even the carnivores are excited to come back! The folks who work here are lovely, and the cozy ambiance matches the food perfectly. I'd give 10 stars if I could! P.S. Don't skip the tea! It's sweet and soothing.

A great find. I'm in Grand Rapids for the day and so glad that I found this place. I'm a fan of vegan Ethiopian and Little Africa is perfect. It is a small restaurant with only a handful of tables. It was empty when I arrived but filled up quickly. The owner was the only one there but was able to handle the tables well. I had the 4 item combo with the Goman, Shiro, Mesir and Soy Curry. I also added Duba for a small upcharge. All the food had great flavor and tasted homemade. My two favorites were the soy curry that had a great spice and the Duba was sweet and tasty.

Great place, great food, great people. The sample/combo platter is always a favorite.

I took a break from Ubering, and I always wanted to try this place. The restaurant could very easily be missed. It's a small, unobtrusive storefront in an older section of town. It is very informal. As soon as you walk in you are able to smell all of the Ethiopian spices. There is steam coming from the kitchen so much that it steamed up the windows. You walk up to the counter and get your menu. You can either order at the counter or sit and order. Strict carnivores beware. There is absolutely NO meat on the menu, but once I started eating I didn't miss it. I had the Ethiopian lentil soup, a beet dish called Key Sir, and the spongy bread known as injera. The lentil soup was comforting but not hardly spiced. This was probably to balance out the spicy mess of the key sir, which was spicy enough that I had to take water breaks. The injera had a light, fluffy, slightly sour taste. The meal is designed to eat with your fingers by tearing off some of the injera and using it to pinch some food from the plate to place in your mouth. A bowl of warm water and a handful of napkins is also brought out to the table so your fingers can be cleansed. In all, it felt like I was at an Ethiopian home partaking in family dinner. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to go on a "foodcation" and not live in Grand Rapids. This restaurant is cash only.

I am so happy we came here! This experience has been nothing short of incredible! I feel honored to have shared not only in this cuisine but that this person is sharing their culture! I am so grateful! As for the food... they have a gluten free option for the bread!! I am so over the moon about this!! I had every intention of putting up and shutting up so I could just enjoy experience so when I opened the menu and saw gluten free I was so excited!! We ordered the dish for two with a portion of all entrees. The food was flavorful and rich! The spices were on point for each but didn't overshadow the star of each. The dominant flavor was always the main ingredient and the spices complemented each one. Some were cooling and some warm and spicy. Come with your senses prepared because you're going to want to enjoy this full experience! Including eating with your hands! The bread is your utensil my friends just enjoy it! Food freshness and quality gains 5 stars! Ambiance gains 5 stars since I'm pretty sure I walked into a little Ethiopian street cafe straight off the streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan! It was warm, cozy, and intentional. Service gains 5 stars! There is no wait to be seated sign so I took the cue and took a seat. I made eye contact with the only person in the kitchen and gave her a smile and a nod. She came out with water and menus within a few minutes. After this we placed our order and enjoyed some thick rich black coffee reminiscent of a cafe in Paris. She then went to preparing our food. She was so sweet and kind. Cleanliness gains 3 stars. The tables are clean but there is some definite room for improvement in the dining area. It felt a bit dark and dusty. This brings the overall rating to 4.6 which means 5 stars!! I'm leaving full and blessed!! I can't wait to share this experience with friends!!