MY TRAVEL DIARIES, PERSONAL STORIES

Blue Nile Ethiopian Kitchen

71 Comments

Hey everyone! I hope y’all are going great!

I am back again with my sightseeing shenanigans and reviews on restaurants and eating joints!

Braving the frigid cold weather and stony rains (it was 43°F/6°C in Memphis, this Saturday), Me and my Huz finally decided to do something different this weekend, other than just whiling away our time on Netflix watching Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes! Our exploration got us to a “small wonder” called – Blue Nile Ethiopian Kitchen – a “haven” for lip-smacking Ethiopian food!

Brain child of Ermyias Shiberou, who is originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Blue Nile Ethiopian Kitchen promises to be authentic to the T and in all honesty it does deliver to the promise! Starting just as a humble food truck (called Stickem), to graduating to a regular “brick-and-mortar” restaurant in 2015, it is a place to devour unique and flavorful food, the inspiration for all of which comes from his Mother. From using re-purposed materials and railings, to the colorful folk art mural painted by local artist Gina Sposto that catches your eyes as soon as you walk in, BNEK – is a perfect little place to have some good time and enjoy genuinity.
Currently functioning out of Madison in the heart of Midtown, this place is quite famous among the locals and tourists alike, offering food that pleases both, the gut and the heart!

Food/Drinks ordered – We ordered the VEGETARIAN PLATTER which was served with INJERA (the Ethiopian flatbread) and washed down with “hot” spicy TEA.

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VEGETARIAN PLATTER – which included mesir wat (savory stew – spicy lentils and mild split peas), shiro wat (ground chickpea stew), beet salad, house salad, potatoes and carrots, cabbage and greens, served with Injera (Ethiopian flatbread)!

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Colorful folk-art mural painted by local artist Gina Sposto!

Overall, it was an amazing experience with everything ordered tasting absolutely delicious! It is always a pleasant surprise to find good vegetarian options here in the BBQ Capitol OF The World! This was my first time ever trying Ethiopian cuisine and in all honesty I was a little skeptical to try out something that I had never. But boy, was I surprised!!!!! I mean, everything from MESIR WAT to SHIRO WAT to CABBAGE, GREENS and INJERA – was just so colorful, filling and flavorsome. We also ordered ourselves some fried TOFU, which literally blew off our brains – I’ve never-never had TOFU that way – fried, lemony and loaded with sautéed onions and bell peppers. Their “spiced-up” TEA is next level exquisite – a must try if you are a “chai” lover like me! (Did I say, I had 3+ cups of it! LOL) 
Great food, excellent service (with the Jorge walking you through everything on the menu and making sure you get what you want), cordial atmosphere and reasonably priced – Blue Nile Ethiopian Kitchen surely looks like a place that “we” would often visit for some good time and great eats!

Rating  iScriblr_5star

So there you go folks! That’s me and my happy tummy stories!
Are you a foodie like me? I am all ears – Hit me up!

Bil-Hana Wiš-šifa!

Love,

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71 Comments

    1. They also do serve the regular “meaty” stuff keeping in mind the locals, so it’s pretty much covered that market too!😋😋

      Thank you so much for stopping by!🙏

      Reply

  5. Ohh that platter does look colorful as it does amazing.
    I’m a little on the ‘picky’ side when it comes to trying out new flavors though, spicy foods and such don’t go far with me. Hehe!
    But your review was great! 😊

    Reply

    1. Haha.. I can so understand.. And tbh, the food is “medium-spicy” kinds, so pretty doable.. Even though, I like it “hot!” 😉

      Aww.. Thank you so much for stopping by.. Appreciate it!😊😊

      Reply

  11. Looks delicious! I laughed at your description of frigid cold though…I’d be putting on shorts in that kind of heat wave! xx

    Reply

    1. Hahahaha.. I know, I know.. I was just exaggerating! 😉 😛

      Thank you so much for stopping by Shelly.. Appreciate it!😊😊

      Reply

    1. It was a good change for us Aixa and yes, the food did not disappoint at all! 😉

      Aww.. Thank you so much for stopping by.. Appreciate it!😊😊

      Reply

  13. I’ve tried Ethiopian food once before. Then I met an actual Ethiopian and we were supposed to meet up and get some food, but it was always delayed, and then I moved.

    The only time I tried, I was impressed with the decor, too. Like you said – everything so colorful. I was put off when I got no utensils to eat my food with. Everything was so gloppy, just like on your plate. The taste wasn’t bad, but the textures definitely put me off.

    Reply

    1. Hahaha.. I so feel you! 😉

      In my experience it grows on you and you eventually learn to enjoy the taste (only)! Thankfully, this place served us with the right kind of cutlery to enjoy our meal. 😉

      Reply

  14. That looks delicious! It’s always cool to see vegan options that look like a genuine main meal. We’re usually sidelined to the side orders. The colors in the place and in the plate make me happy! Great review! Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Haha.. I so am with you on it! I’m just happy now – that slowly and gradually, things are changing for people like “us” and there are more options available than just a plain “green salad!” 😉

      Thank you so much for stopping by!❤️

      Reply

  17. Ethiopian cuisine is my all time favourite African cuisine.I could eat it every day, all day and never get tired of it. The flavours! The textures! The complexities. Droooooooool.

    Reply

    1. Oh wow!! This was my first time ever trying it, but yeah, I’m a fan now! LOL 😉

      Thank you so much for stopping by!❤️

      Reply

    1. Hehe.. I’m so glad that you are and yes, the food was super AMAZZING! 😉

      Thank you so much for stopping by love.. Appreciate it!❤️

      Reply
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