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Red Sea Cafe
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
670 Broadway EVancouver, BC V5T 1X6
Neighbourhood: Mount Pleasant
(604) 873-3332
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
11 reviews for Red Sea Cafe
11 reviews in English
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Review from SipDrinkNosh O.
North Vancouver, BC
5/2/2012
"You're not a slut for the Red Sea...you're a whore!"
So, I have been to every other Ethiopian restaurant in Vancouver, but I keep finding myself back with the Red Sea. It's a serious addiction, one that my friends and I find the craving for often and call each other up to head down for a serious tuck in. Whether its after a stressful day, a tattoo appt, or just a desire for a strenuous mouthgasm, It's really no mystery...The food is top notch in flavor, just bursting with the right amount of spice, the injera is great, and the people who run the place are very sweet and charming. As Nicolb T, pointed out, even days after, you will be smelling your fingertips and rehashing the tastes and salivating all over again.
I think the best way to get the most out of your experience is to order the combo for 4 (even if there's three of you) that way you will get 6 dishes of yummy variety. Be sure to include the Okra as I think it is one of their winning vegetarian dishes, even if you're not a fan of okra, you will be all hot and bothered after trying this! The Kale is great too, and I'm a huge fan of all their beef and chicken dishes.
Sometimes the lamb and the lentils can be kind of tough, and not as flavorful as the other dishes so I generally avoid them, or add in only one of them to our combo choices.
The injera and tasty curries are so potent and fill you up so satisfyingly, you may feel slightly pregnant with a food baby...Lucky then that its likely to be a lasting romance that can surpass the test of time and other vying suitors. -
Review from Maggie L.
Vancouver, BC
4/23/2012
Was invited to a friend's birthday held at Red Sea. I came here with a positive attitude and was open in trying new things. Parking was easily accessible with lots of free street parking, which I liked. However, the location of the resto is considered to be in a "bad" part of town so you might encounter some interesting people (story to follow).
Food: We ordered a plate of the chicken curry and beef curry. The spices in the sauce were AMAZING and it smelled delicious. Tasted delicious too..however I personally wasn't a fan of the injera flatbread. Perhaps it's the texture or maybe the smell..but it wasn't very appetizing to me.
Although I know it's the culture to eat with your hands..it felt very unnatural to me and ended up getting a spoon for the curry sauce near the end.
Service: Perhaps it's the size of the restaurant but it doesn't seem like there's much staff working. I think I saw 2 people in the back and one waiter (also the owner) for the whole restaurant. Although it's a small restaurant..it was PACKED! All the tables were filled which was a good sign. The owner did a great job considering he had to juggle about 10 tables all to himself. He was very friendly too so that was a plus.
Decor: Very basic, and a few cultural pieces on the walls. Clean, which is always a good thing.
Like I mentioned before...you will sometimes encounter some interesting people in this neighbourhood. Not always..but sometimes. On this particular night, I was sitting at my seat listening to a conversation we were having with friends and out of the corner of my eye I see someone walk past really fast outside..then whip back to look through the window. She opened the door really fast, came stumbling in with lingerie on, no shoes and a huge coat in her hand. I know all of this seems pretty strange already but then I realized it was a man! He came running past us and started talking to the owner, then the owner asked him to leave soon after.
The guy turned around in a puff and left right away..but not before turning around and yelling "YOU IGNORANT FUCKER" or something like that. I'm assuming the guy was asking the owner for money. I have nothing against people's choice in lifestyles..but I felt bad for the owner. It was nothing personal, he's just running a business. -
Review from Foodie D.
Vancouver, BC
5/25/2012
I LOVE this place and can't believe that more people haven't discovered it.
Beef tibs are my fave, although I usually prefer the lamb and chicken dishes as the beef tends to be a little tough. However, bear in mind that Ethiopian beef is supposed to be *a little* tough which has to do with the cooking style and the cut of beef itself (although, it shouldn't be chewy... just don't expect filet mignon in your curry). The vegetarian selection is good too - try the spiced lentils. Mmmm!
It seems like most people who give Ethiopian restaurants poor reviews just don't like injera. It's true - it's a soft, slightly moist, textured sourdough-like flavored flat-bread and some people just aren't used to it. Having eaten at every Ethiopian place in Vancouver, I think the injera at Red Sea is perfect - it's not mushy or too thick like at some other places. The best part, if you're not already in a food coma by the end of your meal, is the injera on the plate which has soaked up all the delicious sauces. Sooo good!
The value is great too: good quality and quantity for the price. I almost always go here with a second person, order the combo for two and make sure I'm very hungry. It's true that when it gets busy, service is slow since it's run entirely by two people (who are both very soft spoken and wonderful individuals). But so what if you have to wait a bit? Sit and have very reasonably priced beer and enjoy the company of your friend(s) or casual date (especially since Sleeman's is only $4.25 a bottle).
It's clean, it's small, it's probably a place you've passed a hundred times and never really noticed. Sure, the neighbourhood sometimes seems a tad on the sketchy side, but it's not like East Hastings by any means and it's actually quite safe. In fact, the neighbourhood is rapidly changing and I fully expect this restaurant to flourish even more as more hipsters, main-street and commercial drive folks move it.
Try it and then tell all of your friends how awesome it is! -
Review from Elle J.
Vancouver, BC
4/12/2012
My favourite Ethiopian restaurant outside of Ethiopia. Other places I've tried in Vancouver sacrifice the food's flavour (to appeal to Canadian palates, I guess), but Red Sea Cafe is authentic Ethiopian. A good selection of vegetarian dishes, as well as beef, lamb, and chicken, all served on top of the best injera in the city. My favourite dishes are shuro and beef tibs, but everything is delicious.
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Review from Nicolb T.
My hands still smell so delicious!
Ethiopian food is served on a huge plate of injera - teff flour based flatbread with a slightly acidic taste. It's weird on its own, but freaking AMAZING with the accompanying dishes. There are no utensils, so wash up and get ready to eat with your hands.
Between 6 people, we split a For Two combo (2 meat, 3 veggies) with and included a full order of lamb. When I get my hands on a menu, will review with proper food names!
Carnivorous must haves: either of the raw beef options, lamb
Vegetarian must haves: okra, green beans.
Personally, I think it's a great cuisine to share with close friends, or friends you'd like to get closer with (if you know what I mean. ;)
While I have only had Ethiopian food a handful of times, Red Sea Cafe did not disappoint. Went hungry, left full and with a huge smile. They even managed to convert my on-the-fence boyfriend into a believer. -
Review from Veronica D.
Vancouver, BC
8/24/2011
Went here early on a Saturday night, the place was not busy. Ordered the vegetarian platter for 2.
Everything came out REALLY fast. This was a surprise. So I guessed things were microwaved or something. The lentil dishes are normally my favourite, but we ordered the yellow split peas and they were not cooked enough. Still hard and chewy and the other brown lentils were just seasoned gross.
I've had Ethiopian several times and even made the recipes myself so I think I was just disappointed the flavours were a little different and not to my taste and the food was luke warm.
The owner was very kind and friendly, I just don't think I'll come all the way out to Hastings again for dinner. -
Review from Fritz S.
7/16/2011
FINALLY after Months and Months of planning. (don't ask) I finally went to Vancouver's best Ethiopian Joint!
Located on the corner of E. Broadway and Fraser this small family owned cafe restaurant have been serving authentic delicious Ethiopian cuisine for years! No need for utensils over here! all u need is the tools God gave you... yes.. your hands!
Your food is automatically served with Injera, a slightly sour flat bread with your meal. I ordered the the combo for 2. (two meat dishes with two veggie dishes) For the meat i got the chicken and the beef Tibs. I don't remember the name but i was great! for the veggies i got the Lentils and the spinach with red onion. also very good! all was served on top of the Injera bread!
This was a great experience for me and i am glad i went! it never hurts to try something new. so the next time u feel bold, consider Ethiopian food! its not for everyone, but it might be for you :) Thanks Andrew F. for the recommendation!!
stay hungry my friends! ;) -
Review from Ian T.
6/3/2010
The Red Sea is wonderful.
We three diners each ordered a sampler so had nearly every vegetable option and both of the cardamom spiced beef and chicken dishes. Of the meat dishes, the beef was shockingly good-a stew with a spicy sweet flavor somewhere between a barbecue and mole sauce.
The chicken was pretty good, but was hard to appreciate on the same table as the dominant beef dish.
The vegetable dishes were even better versions of what have been our favorite dishes in the past, but the kale was best for how well it complimented the beef dish.
I agree with the other reviewer's impression of the injera-just sour and very, very fresh.
The only complaint is that the savignon blanc was not at all good... but who goes to a place like this for good wine anyway?
One of the main reasons we visit Vancouver is because, living just across the border in Bellingham, we are starved for good ethnic food. The Red Sea reinforces or impression of the vibrancy and variety of Vancouver's ethnic cuisine. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
12/14/2010 3 Check-ins Here
The vegetarian offerings at Ethiopian restaurants on the East side tend to all be pretty much the same, but I like Red Sea best. Their stews are the spiciest, and the injera is always fresh and tasty. I have never been disappointed here, and that's saying something, because some of the other Ethiopian restaurants around have made me feel a bit ill!
Listed in: Vegan Vancouver
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Review from Sumeet G.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2010
Eriterean and Ethiopian cuisine at this small family run restaurant at Broadway and Fraser. The couple who run it are always friendly and very hospitable and always make us feel special. We have been eating here for the last three years and have enjoyed it every time. We usually order the platter and mix and match veggie and meat dishes. Most of the dishes are great, the ground lentils, and okra always stand out, and the lamb is not as fantastic as the chicken. The bread is perfect.
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Review from chantal m.
Vancouver, BC
2/19/2011
love! awesome vegetarian options and really good injera. if you haven't tried injera, you'll either love it or hate it cause it's kind of sour. but this place makes it really well...so hard not to like.
warning: red sea cafe IS intimate and you eat and share food with your hands (i.e., no cutlery). don't go here if you're on an awkward date or alone with your parents.
