Zemam’s Too

Lovely atmosphere, awesomly FRESH & seasoned cuisine! Owner extremely pleasant & informative. Perfect for a family feast or an intimate date night. Prices are right for the amount of food you get.

Very good food and the people here are so kind. I like the sampler plate and the chai tea :)

Very lovely owner and on point food!
I recommend a sampler. The non-​spicy boneless chicken, Shiro, and Yemisir Kay Wat dishes were all pleasingly flavorful and the perfect size when bought in a sampler. I loved concept of this form of finger food!

Zemam’s has been on my list of places to try for a long, long time. My boyfriend and I finally came for dinner a couple of nights ago. I called ahead of time, and I was told that they close around 9PM. We arrived at about 8PM. We were the only people there. Our first server was friendly, but she took off without notice before we even ordered drinks. All of sudden we had a different server. I wouldn’t call him a server, however. He pretty much just yelled at us from the counter that you pay at. He was excessively rude. He asked us why it took us so long to order. He took away our wine menu after we asked to keep it on the table. He played on his phone. Then, he turned up the volume on his phone. Our water glasses were never refilled. They sat empty for half of our meal. We had to ring the bell at the counter to get our check. They ignored it. My boyfriend had to open the kitchen doors and yell for our check. The cook and our «server» were having some sort of yelling match in the kitchen the whole time.

Sooo good. And the people who work there are really nice too.
I wish they had a really affordable lunch special or something, because I think then I’d be there everyday.

I’d been wanting to try Zemam’s Too for some time (it’s very close to work) and last night I got my chance.
The food is wonderful, with a wide variety of spices and level of heat, yet every dish is compatible with the others, no matter what spices are used. The communal style — no cutlery, and it’s served on a big tray over a spongy sourdough bread (tortilla thickness) with a thicker version of the same bread on the side. Not everyone will take to the sponginess of the bread but I love it!
My friend and I ordered the lentil stew and non-​spicy chicken — they came with side portions of the green beans, the red lentils, a cabbage/​carrot dish that I had also wanted to try, and a potato/​vegetable medley. We shared everything very happily. I had iced tea, which is flavored with cardamom and cinnamon. It was yummy, very satisfying and relaxing. There was no dessert option, but I realized I didn’t really need one!
One final note. Our server, Lucas, could not have been more helpful, more knowledgeable or more authentically charming. He added immeasurably to our enjoyment of the evening.
We’ll be back, and we’ll make sure we’re hungry!

Wow! I’ve never had Ethiopian food before so I didn’t know what to expect. The food is served on top of a sourdough flatbread and you pick it up with the bread — no forks! Most dishes are a kind of curry/​stew called wat that is loaded with spices. We each got samplers, which come with 3 dishes of your choice, and I’d definitely recommend doing that. The sampler comes with a lot of food; we each got one but probably could split one next time depending on how hungry we are.
Between the two of us, we got the following, which were all good:
Shiro («A unique dish of pureed Chickpeas blended with traditional spices»): I thought this was pretty good. My wife thought it was OK but the worst of the six. The texture was a pureed consistency.
Yetakelt Wat («A delicately seasoned medley of fresh Vegetables and Potatoes»): This one was great. The texture of the potatos really gave it character and the flavor was spot on.
Gomen Wat («Traditional Collard Greens with garlic, coriander and cayenne»): Another hit. The chopped collard greens were infused with big flavor! She’s still talking about them.
Yemisir Kay Wat («Red Lentils, sautéed with onions in a spicy berbere sauce»): I thought this were only pretty good, but my wife really liked them. Spicy!
Spinach («Spinach stewed in a mild blend of traditional spices»): This one was good but we both agreed that the collard greens were better!
Spicy Boneless Chicken («Traditional Chicken dish slowly cooked in a rich, spicy berbere sauce»): My wife is a vegetarian so I got this one to myself! The chicken had a nice, deep spice to it. Really nice.
The restaurant itself looks like a converted house, with some nice African art/​décor. We really liked this place, and now that I’ve tasted Ethiopian food I can’t wait to have some more!

Ok. Tried their new location. Clean. More parking. Food portions more generous than previous experiences. Food tastes good! Had coffee. It was real good. Only thing was their chicken dish… the chicken was dry as a bone. And it was boneless. Other than that. Good. Delicate flavors.

Like the concept of the samplers, makes a crowd favorite. Absolute a fan of the fermented bread, kinda sour but add a refreshment to all the spices.

I’ve been a fan of the original location for eons, but as a West University homeowner, I was thrilled to have the second open here. I’m not sure why I haven’t written a review until now, as I’ve eaten here dozens of times, so I’m long overdue.
My sons are adopted from Zambia, and I spent some time in Africa (though not Ethiopia), and many of the items on the menu take me back to the bustling marketplaces and street-​side huts of Lusaka and villages in Botswana and Namibia. I could eat my weight in the green beans (which you can’t get at the Broadway location)!
The owner (Amanuel, I believe) seems to always be there (while his son seems to perpetually staff the Broadway location now), and he is always so courteous and attentive, smiling every time we’ve come in — even at moments before closing. The portions are fantastic, and the price is insanely reasonable for what you get. (I’m vegetarian and always end up getting the sampler with friends, so I can’t speak about meat dishes, though my non-​veg friends have enjoyed them tremendously.)
There is something sacred about a shared meal, and the way everyone eats off the same plate (and then eats that «plate») is incredibly special. I used to be neighbors to one of the original servers at the Broadway location, and she told me stories about the owner’s kindness, as well as incredible tales of his efforts to be a bridge between families torn by the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Knowing that the owners are great people makes the food even more sacred to me, and I feel good supporting a local business owned by a family that is doing genuine good in the world.
Both locations are fantastic, and I still go to the Broadway location fairly frequently, but because of slight differences to the menu, I prefer the Speedway venue. That being said, both locations are real treasures, and better than Ethiopian food I’ve tasted in major cities like DC, NYC, and San Francisco. We are so fortunate to have such authentic and delicious food here in Tucson, made by salt-​of-​the-​earth types of people!

I’ve been to Zemam’s Too twice in the last few weeks: We went there for my husband’s birthday, then last night I met a friend for dinner and suggested that we meet here. Both times I’ve absolutely loved it.
My favorites are the vegetarian dishes, ESPECIALLY the yesimir wot (I hope I spelled that right!) and the green beans, but the spicy boneless chicken is also very good.
One thing to keep in mind: The portion sizes are quite generous. This is generally a good thing, but if you don’t like to waste food and are headed somewhere so you can’t take leftovers with you, keep it in mind. The sampler is supposed to feed one, but when I came here with my husband, I ordered the all-​veggie sampler and he ordered the all-​meat sampler (although we both ended up eating some of everything). We were both very hungry and I think between the two of us, we could only eat about half or ²⁄₃ of what was served.
Service is very friendly, prices are reasonable, and the food is excellent – all in all, this place is great!

excellent food. haven’t been impressed with very many African restaurants in Arizona, but this one is delicious. very nice staff and nice atmosphere. prices are very reasonable and they even have gluten-​free injera!

I would definitely recommend Zemam’s to anyone who wants to try a traditional Ethiopian food! The environment is very unique and fun. The food is delicious! I have been here a few times now, and the only thing I didn’t like was that it is always really quiet in the restaurant, so it’s definitely not the best place for super loud, large groups. But the food is wonderful! Everything I have tried has been great.

For lovers of the original Zemam’s, there is one major reason to try Zemam’s Too at least once: You can choose the Gored Gored as part of the sampler platter. I’d always been curious about it, but I just couldn’t abandon my beloved sampler platter. It’s so good. Anything on the menu is fair game for the sampler, including some fish and lamb options, which you won’t find at the OG Zemam’s.
For the uninitiated, Zemam’s Too is a great restaurant for people who 1) love bold flavors and spice, 2) are open to an interesting non-​Western dining experience, and 3) aren’t too fussy about ambiance or getting their hands dirty. Like its predecessor, Zemam’s Too is now in the top tier of my favorite restaurants in Tucson. I prefer these restaurants over Café Desta – the Zemam’s dishes really hit you with flavor like a truck, which I absolutely love.

Fall in love with Ethiopian food at Zemam’s Too! Lentils, peas, potatoes, carrots, califlour, onion, cabbage, and more, all cooked to perfection and served atop a spongy bread that you tear and eat as you go. Lots of spice levels to choose from.

Dear Ethiopian Food, you are awesome, can we be best friends?! Afraid to take the plunge? Just try it, you’ll thank né later. I ordered a combo 1 meat & 2 veg and everything was amazing! The spicy chicken was flavorful and fell off the bone easily. The Shiro was seasoned to perfection and creamy and the red lentils were like a party in my mouth. Zemam’s Too is somewhere I’ll be back to!

Zemam’s and Zemam’s too are basically the same thing, for anyone trying to decide.
Food: consistent and always very good. If you’re not used to ethnic foods, this is a good place to start! Always order one less thing than you think you’ll need.
Atmosphere: the one on speedway seems almost always empty. Both locations seem to be houses converted into restaurants. Servers are very friendly and helpful in the ordering, but service itself is VERY slow. But I think that’s part of the charm :)
Great for long, lazy dinners with a group of friends. Also, very cheap for an authentic ethiopian meal. One of my favorites in Tucson!

Zemam’s Too has all the goodness of Zemam’s, with only a slight hint of «rebellious little sibling» syndrome.
You’ll find this location to be more formal than the original. Let’s say that if flatware was used in Ethiopian dining, you’d find it here and not at the Broadway location. There’s open space and a little more breathing room. The menu is slightly limited and doesn’t have the traditional Ethiopian descriptions.
Beyond that, the excellent service and food are all the same. If you like Zemam’s, you’ll like Zemam’s Too, too. Any more words here and this turns into a Dr. Seuss book.
Protip: if this is your first experience with Ethiopian food, yes, you’re supposed to use your hands. Tear off a piece of injera (the spongy bread), scoop up some food, and eat. Repeat.
Rich’s recommendation: five to six entrees plus one injera bump (small extra fee) is good for two people of moderate to moderate high eating ability. Plan accordingly. If you’re not a fan of veggies, try one of the veggie options. It’s so good you won’t even notice. Your mom would be so proud.

I have been eating at the original Zemam’s location for years. It is one of my favorite Tucson establishments. And so I was thrilled to learn that the owners had opened a second restaurant, and closer to the University of Arizona campus and Interstate 10.
I opted for a dinner with a friend.
First things I noticed:
1. Same wonderful and warming service.
2. Great, open space. Lots more room.
3. Slightly more formal than the Broadway location.
But I found that not only is the menu a bit more limited when it comes to my favorites, the prices, at times, are slightly higher. One of the things I absolutely love about the original location is the option for the sampler, which comes with great variety and sizable portions.
The verdict: The original location is still my favorite spot.

This restaurant was pretty good but I still like the original better. We came in about 8:30 on a Saturday and it was empty. It’s sort of bright and airy inside, the opposite of the original location. Not much in the way of atmosphere.
We ordered 2 combinations for 3 people and got lamb, spinach, red lentils, chick peas, cauliflower, and collard greens. The lamb was tender but a bit dry and the collard greens seems a little too bitter. They were also cold, as was the injera. A lot of the food was sort of lukewarm. The lentils and the spinach were the best. The cauliflower was also tasty. I liked the degree of spiciness throughout the meal.
In the first half of our visit, our water glasses were refilled constantly, but halfway through the meal, after offering us more injera, the waitress disappeared for a while, so that we ran out of both water and bread.
Would definitely give this place another try to get the details right.