As far as I am aware, there are only a handful of eateries in Adelaide that serve Ethiopian food. The latest one to open it’s doors is Tana which is located in the new Allenby Gardens shopping complex just outside the city. Having eaten this type of cuisine before, the menu offerings looked vaguely familiar with a total of 3 appetisers and 16 mains.

Less than a week old, the furnishings were nice and new. The use of burgundy is quite prominent, and the white table cloths add a touch of class. The floor to ceiling windows allow plenty of natural light to flow through making this place light and airy.

The Injera (Ethiopian flat bread) was soft and spongy with a subtle sourness. One side is more porous than the other which allows the sauces from the mains to be absorbed into the bread.

The Doro Wat is an Ethiopian red chicken stew. The chicken was tender and succulent, and the flavours were well absorbed into the meat. The sauce had a nice thick consistency with a lovely spicy after taste. It was so good I could have licked the bowl clean.

Kitfo is minced beef that has been warmed with spiced purified butter, cardamom and mitmita (hot chilli powder). The meat can be served raw, rare or well done. If I could compare it to something, it reminded me of eating minced up salami. The beef was well spiced with a nice after burn.

Tibs was sliced lamb with onion, garlic, chilli and mixed spices. The lamb was slightly over cooked and little on the fatty side. The dish was subtly flavoured and reminded of a stir fry.

The staff were friendly and the service was very good. Drinks and meals arrived promptly, and plates were cleared as I finished. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was reasonable. The Meat Platter deal set me back $20 which was pretty good considering the deal allows you to select 3 mains from the menu. With the most expensive main being $25, it’s nothing that will break the bank.

Verdict: One of the better Ethiopian eateries in Adelaide.

WHERE: Shop 2, 119-121 Grange Rd, Allenby Gardens