Simba
“Eat when the food is ready; speak when the time is right.”
You might not be aware of it, but I used to work for a while in Ethiopia. Some 10 years ago I was staying for a while in Mek’ ele, and one thing was clear from day 1: the food of Ethiopia is special. Considering Sweden has a large Ethiopian and Eritrean minority, there are many restaurants with the food of that region. Simba is one of the more popular ones, located as centrally as it gets.
Simba can be found not too far away from Lilla Bommen in a charming old building. Inside, it’s usually very dark, but if you have been to Ethiopia, it looks like a restaurant straight from there. Very atmospheric!
It usually gets quite packed for dinner, so you better have a reservation if you come at your typical dinner hour. But even without a reservation, they can usually make something happen for you.
The menu gives you the options of many typical dishes, but also clarifies clearly what is vegan. If you are unfamiliar, this is definitely helpful. However, the big fighter you should go for is the so-called vegan Bejajneto. It’s a plate filled with various vegan dishes on the typical fermented pancake-type bread, injera. You need to be 2 people at least and the price is 210 SEK/person.
This will give you all that you desire, served in a beautiful way. You will get your different stews with lentils, with potatoes, some salads with beetroot, kale or vegetables. And a bunch of injera to dip it in.
And this is where Simba really shines. It’s authentic, the taste is interesting and the variety really makes you want to indulge in everything at the same time. It’s a beautiful experience to eat this properly with your hands as well, so don’t shy away from going full authentic in this way.
With attentive and friendly staff, this makes the experience at Simba only all the more better. For me, it always brings me back to my time in Ethiopia and I really appreciate that Simba still feels kind of fancy, so it’s a nice place to bring your mother-in-law to impress her with how cultural aware you are. If you get my gist.
Absolutely recommended!
Price:
Vegan Bejajneto (plate): 210 SEK/person
Extra Injera: 20 SEK
The Verdict
Simba is a fantastic experience if you want to indulge in Ethiopian cuisine. The plating is as authentic as it gets, while the taste will bring you right to East Africa. The smiling staff, together with the cosy atmosphere just tops it off. Go for a vegan Bejajneto and have a good time. The price is fair and you will have a memorable evening. Much recommended!
5/5 Leaves
Pro
Cosy atmosphere
Nice staff
authentic environment
Great food
Con
Can get very crowded and tight
Location
Sankt Eriksgatan 3
Opening Hours
Mo: closed
Tu-Th: 16:00 - 22:00
Fr-Sa: 16:00 - 22:30
Su: 16:00 - 21:30
