Asmara Bella

Asmara Bella is a friendly, female-owned restaurant specialising in Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine. There aren’t many places serving habesha food in Manchester and this is the only one in the Northern Quarter, so if you have an urge for injera, this is the place to come.

Dishes are served to share and are mainly based around the sour, fermented pancake injera which is made from teff, an ancient grain. Rolled up injera are served as an accompaniment, and seasoned meat dishes like awaze tibsi or kitfo are served dollop-style atop a massive injera for you to tear up and scoop. There is also a good selection of vegan options too. Only the stews, or wat, are served separately.

The air is heady with incense which creates a unique atmosphere – somewhere between Addis Ababa and a shop for dreadlocked crusties. If you want a real sense of ritual, order an Ethiopian coffee. It’s nothing short of a spiritual ceremony with beans roasted at low temperatures and smoking fragrant frankincense.