What a gem! I think I like this place better and better ever time I go. I have met Ethiopians who say that this food is quite authentic. We love their veggie sampler and their lamb tibbs. The sambusa appetizer is delicious, but we have only had the lentil one and it can be fairly spicy. Worth the occasional drive from Norman for sure!
K H.
Place rating: 5 Norman, OK
This west okc Ethiopian food brings authentic East African food to Oklahoma city. I’m so glad we have this place. The lamb is fantastic. Get it spicy.
Alison S.
Place rating: 5 Norman, OK
My first impression was that I was entering a palace. The staff was immediately warm and friendly, and we were seated immediately and served right away. But that isn’t even the best part though. The food is hands-down some of the best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had. I thought Oakland, California was the place for Ethiopian food, but I guess Oklahoma City is a contender. Would recommend to everyone passing through this great little state.
Makeda M.
Place rating: 5 Midtown Belvedere, Baltimore, MD
Yummmm! My family is from Ethiopia and I grew up in DC, where some of the best Ethiopian food in the US is made. This place gets my stamp of approval. I kept putting off trying this restaurant ever since I moved here 2 years ago. I was nervous that it wouldn’t be authentic enough. I wish I had gone sooner! Love the quiet ambience(we went for Friday night dinner). Don’t be put off by the sketchy location. The food is totally worth it.
Elizabeth L.
Place rating: 5 Depew, OK
I’ve eaten Ethiopian food in cities all over the country, this is among my favorites. Don’t let the dingy façade deter you, it’s warm and cozy inside. We got the vegetarian platter for two and it was outstanding. Our platter had yellow beans in a mild seasoning, spicy red beans almost like lentils, potatoes and carrots in a mild curry type sauce, string beans and carrots, collard greens, and a green salad with a mild vinaigrette. They provided plenty of delicious injera and the portions were plenty. We also had the hot tea which had a wonderful spice to it. The service was also very friendly. They have a full bar and plenty of comfortable seating. And the prices were very reasonable. We loved it. We will be back!
Samit P.
Place rating: 5 Oklahoma City, OK
my first go around at Ethiopian food and was very impressed! the servers were amazing — explained everything in detail. got the sampler dish and still had plenty left to take home. highly recommend!
Gwen S.
Place rating: 5 Fort Worth, TX
Dined here with my mother about a few months ago. We are huge fans of Ethiopian food and are always looking for Ethiopian restaurants when we travel. We started with the fried injera and it was fantastic. It had just the right amount of spice and we finished it all. Then we split the vegetarian sampler and could not stop eating. There was plenty of food for two and we ended up taking the leftovers back to the hotel. I highly recommend this place for both folks who love Ethiopian food(you won’t be disappointed) and for folks who haven’t tried it before. There are options on the menu for newbies to try a little of everything to learn what they like.
Miriam L.
Place rating: 4 Manhattan, NY
Woohoo! I love this place. I am so relieved to have found a good Ethiopian restaurant in OKC. Food is fast, delicious, and they are always so polite and accommodating. I love the vegetarian sampler – perfect size for two people. It’s also a good place to go with a bigger group – a few sampler plates and you are set.
Savannah S.
Place rating: 1 Brooklyn, NY
Well the drinks are weak and they cost a lot, parking sucks and most importantly… the DJ quest sucks. Honestly. Plays music all the way to the end and doesn’t even play good reggae. And he doesn’t even cross fade any music. Please either remove him or give him good DJ advice. Great crowd tho. Aiigh 1.
Matt M.
Place rating: 5 Oklahoma City, OK
The Vegetarian Sampler is always the best way to go. Unless you know Ethiopian cuisine and know what you like, it is best to get the SAMPLER version(you may have to ask for it). A dollop of each will come on a bed of injera bread and you eat with your fingers. Try the Sambussa as an appetizer. Honey wine is a great drink but watch it, the alcohol sneaks up on you!
Natalia D.
Place rating: 4 Pittsburg, CA
Read about Queen of Sheba in the OK tourism guide. It was very cool because I had never had Ethiopian food before. The waiter helped my husband and I choose and explained the dishes. We ended up getting the Queen of Sheba sampler plate which had veggies, chicken and two types of beef. We got the portion for two and it was plenty. We also had the chicken sambusa for an appetizer which was similar to an Indian samosa and very good. I was also very impressed with the interior of this establishment and the décor. I recommend it for a change of pace.
Sean D.
Place rating: 4 East Hanover, NJ
I have not been in OKC in several years. Between visits I always talk up Queen Of Sheba as a must stop. OKC and Ethiopian food? YES! Don’t let the strip mall discourage you. The atmosphere is perfect for a single, couple or group meal. The food is as good as I remember. I have a few places in the US seek out this food. This is one of them. The food is very good. The staff is nice and attentive and the price is just right. Not cheep but inexpensive for the quality and portions. There is something for meat lovers, vegetarians and you can always do both. I had the Queen Messob(meat and vegetarian mix) and a spicy chicken stuffed bread app Chicken Sambosa. My only regret is the empty seats! I hope this tucked away jewel sticks around. Until the next time! My fond memories freshened up. Please come and enjoy!
Cielo G.
Place rating: 4 Durango, CO
Cleanliness, atmosphere, service: All top-notch. Having been in other Ethiopian restaurants in larger cities like Denver, this place has the most class of all combined! Excellent job Queen of Sheba. Vegetarian combo was good, except for the collard greens which were cooked in WAY too much oil. That’s the only reason I can’t give 5 stars. The lentils had the perfect amount of spice, and the yellow split peas accompanied green beans, lettuce salad, and(sadly) boring white potatoes. If I were a local who frequently visited, I’d ask for no potatoes and more lentils. The portion size wasn’t large for a hungry stomach, so I asked the waiter for more of two items and additional injera. He obliged without charging more. It’s typically their culture to make sure you’re full.
Victoria N.
Place rating: 5 Oklahoma City, OK
Pro: food, price, interior is beautiful Con: I honestly can’t think of anything bad for this place, maybe the location since its in a strip mall that looks sketchy? A friend of mine wanted to try this place for dinner today and I was really hesitant since I never tried Ethiopian food but she said the reviews were great, so I trusted her. When I first saw the pictures on here, I was like the food is so little and it didn’t look appealing. I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but turns out I loved this place! We came in around 6:50 pm and it wasn’t packed and even when we ate there, it was just a couple of people at that time. I never gave anyone a five star before but this place is gonna be a first, it’s a place that I would definitely go back. We had a unique dining experience. They gave you hot towels to wash your hands since you going to use yours hand to grab the food. They don’t have a website so my friend and I was clueless on what to get, but she ended up getting the vegetarian combination was which so delicious! and I got the allat? watt, which taste like beef stews. When we got our plates, we didn’t know how to eat it, but the server was nice enough to show us. So the veg. comb. and the allat? watt lies on top of this spongy dough that have the same taste as sourdough bread, and you tear it apart and roll it up w/the food. I know the food seems little in pictures, but it’s definitely filling. The food there are so flavorful. Our servers were attentive. What I like about it is that I felt like I didn’t have to be rush to finish my food. I feel like at other restaurants, servers either ask you if you need something too many times esp whether you’ve finish with the food or they don’t. It was definitely a good dining experience for me, trying a new cuisine that I was so nervous about. I felt like I got to experience their culture just by eating there.
Julianna H.
Place rating: 3 Stillwater, OK
Unique dining experience. Worth going there once. I’ve never had Ethiopian food before. The chicken is not great but the vegetarian options are all wonderful. I really enjoyed the beef as well. The spongy telf bread was really strange but nice. The restaurant was deserted on Friday night yet they were out of the only dessert menu item. The wait staff was superb. The building was freezing. No heat in January is crazy!
Alayna D.
Place rating: 4 Tulsa, OK
I have to admit that I was a bit hesitant about trying Ethiopian food at first, but this was an amazing dining experience! The meal is eaten all with your hands using pieces of spongey bread to scoop up the deliciousness. Any meal that has bread as a staple is fine by me!!! For those that, like me, were unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, there are plenty of helpful tips and explanations on the menu. Before your meal you are presented with one of those piping hot wash cloths like on an airplane. So very luxurious! We got the sampler for three people and all three of us left feeling satisfied. My favorite thing on the plate was the beef followed closely by the potatoes. Yum! The restaurant is larger than I expected, and there was a lot of cool Ethiopian décor. You might be wary to try this place because of the different cuisine, but believe me, you will not be disappointed! I loved it and cannot wait to go back next time I’m in OKC!
Jennifer H.
Place rating: 4 Los Angeles, CA
Hidden gem. When you think of Oklahoma City, you don’t necessarily think of Ethiopian food. You would be wrong. We were tipped off on this place by a friend of ours from the area, and we admittedly questioned whether this would be good food. We were only in town for a day and wanted to taste something local and homemade. We were thinking BBQ, maybe Mexican… but Ethiopian? There were very few people in the place, but we were immediately greeted by a waiter and directed to a booth against the window. I got the vegetarian sampler, and my date got the non-vegetarian sampler. They each came on the signature bread that you eat with your hands. No silverware for Ethiopian food, folks! You get used to it, and it makes for more of an eating experience. I loved the variety of the foods. There was a salad in the middle(maybe a bit too much dressing on this one). On the sides there were beans and vegetables of different colors and flavors. It was a little difficult to narrow down exactly what the contents were, but they were all delicious and gave a nice sampler of yummy food. We were also given plenty of the spongy bread that is so typical of this type of food. Neither one of us finished the portions — so much food! For around $ 30, the two of us left stuffed and very impressed with this local restaurant. Whether you’re from the area or just passing through, you should definitely check this place out.
Rachel S.
Place rating: 4 Oklahoma City, OK
My *cunning observational skills has led me to the conclusion that diverse eateries tend to be on the slow side with service, regardless of how busy they are. So I’ve become complacent with it. People with less experience with these places, or just less patience, may get a little antsy. BUT. But. They don’t whoosh by you and ignore you when they are around. They are all happy enough to explain the food and all of that to you, and usually prompt first by asking if you know anything about the food. Don’t be shy, seriously.(*)Being shy in places you’re not accustomed to is, in my opinion, the number one cause of bad dining experiences. If you don’t know exactly what you’re getting, you may not like it at all. And that could have been changed if you got a bit of information to make a better selection for yourself. Also, feeling awkward and shy isn’t a good feeling for anyone. The inside is both quaint and pretty. It’s simple and not overly done to attract the eyes of tourist types. The tables are large, because… well, there are some large things on the menu, and they do a good job of not having tiny tables that make dining in this sort of establishment uncomfortable. I noticed on my way out that there is a small area for… tea? Possibly tea and coffee. Just a place to lounge and relax as you drink. I could be wrong, but that’s the way it looked to me. They also have a small bar area. Queen of Sheba Messob(5⁄5): «A dazzling array of beef, chicken, and lamb with vegetarian dishes, arranged in our large serving tray.» They will explain it to you themselves, but going in knowing more is always good, and **knowing is half the battle: You get this arrangement for one person and it will be $ 13.99, two people is $ 26.99(so $ 13.50 each), and three or more people it becomes $ 12.99 per person. So if you go with a group and no one has something particular in mind, this is a fair choice. That’s what my group did, at least! I won’t be rating the dishes individually, because they all were equally as good as each other in their own way, but here’s what it included(that I remember, sorry): — Salad — Chicken legs — Beef pieces — Lamb pieces — A chickpea spread(possibly shurro watt) — A greenbean salad(atkilt watt I think) — A potato dish(no idea what the name is) — Injera(sour dough-risen flatbread) for scooping everything up! * Like a fox (*) Seriously. ** I’m sorry.
Jason L.
Place rating: 4 Durham, NC
Went with three friends on a weekend night. It is in a shady area and strip mall but do not let that deter you from coming. Ethiopian food is very good and unique. You eat it with your hands and they provide you with a hot towel to clean first. And your hands don’t get too messy since you take the crepes they provide to pick the food up with. We got the messob platter for four people to share. Tasty, good, and simple. Good, simple décor and clean. Very nice and friendly waitstaff. I will be coming here more often now. Oh and we shared a slice of chocolate cake that was very good. Glass of red wine was good with the meal too.
KJ J.
Place rating: 3 Oklahoma City, OK
Meat sampler is a great choice. I arranged a meetup group to come enjoy this place. I had made a reservation for 15 – 20 people, but as most RSVPs, only 50% show up. I called ahead to see if they wold entertain us with free appetizers/desserts, etc and I would talk to the manager when I got there. On arrival around 6:45(Reservation was at 7), they had a table of 8 for us, but said they will add a couple more as needed. Apparently they know my kind and knew RSVPs weren’t upheld. My groups started trickling in and by 7:30 we had most of the people in and were ready to order. There were only 2 servers running the entire restaurant on a Friday night. I had called on Monday so they should have know that there will be at least 1 large party to get additional help. Food: Overall the food was very good. The fried injerna bread was pretty spicy, but that is a positive attribute in my opinion. I ordered the #32 which is the meat sampler for $ 13.99.The green beans, carrots w/potatoes, lamb, beef, chicken, lentils, chickpeas were all delicious. Amazingly enough the salad on plate was awesome. and I am not a salad person. The different between the vegetable sampler and the meat sampler, besides the meat options of course, is $ 2 and you get spinach on the vegetarian sampler. In my opinion, the $ 2 is well worth it. The chocoloate cake looked amazing, but was a little dry. The same applies for the baklava. The spiced tea smelled incredible with the cinnamon, but you couldn’t really taste much. The see-through cup was a nice touch. Water, coke and other refills were minimal and had to flag down out waiter several times. I finally talked to the owner and she hooked us up with desserts(chocolate cake and Baklava). We were probably the last ones there and we joked that they had to use Abacus to calculate what we owed. It took us a long time to get our bills and pay. Overall: Food was pretty good(minus the drinks/desserts). Service was extremely slow and minimal. Environment was fun and jovial. Not a place I will come more than once or twice a year.