On Wednesday I had the pleasure of meeting up with Art at University and Snelling in St Paul to help him out. On our way to our destination I saw Fasika and mentioned that I had never tried Ethiopian before. Art, nodding sideways at the restaurant, said that it was one of his favorites and has eaten there several times before and asked if I wanted to try some tonight. I believe something like, “Fuck yes!” was my reply.
So we arrived around dinner time and found several of the clear plastic covered tables, which made me feel like we were eating in one of my grandmother’s bedrooms, filled with a diverse group of people eager to get their hands dirty–literally. Surprising to me, but obviously not Art, you typically eat Ethiopian with your hands. They provide a pliable, soft, stretchy strong bread called Injera which looks like a crepe but with spongy holes on one side. You break off pieces of this bread (which comes out looking almost like a chamois folded in quarters) and scoop your food from your plate. While I’m not normally one for this type of adventure after recently finishing 20 Ghost Wings in 8 minutes with sauce all over my face, hands, and clothes my aversion to getting my hands filthy while I eat was out the window this week.
Art ordered coffee to drink and while I no longer drink it myself, I must admit that I still find the smell intoxicating. This particular cup, strong according to Art, smelled fantastic and brought me back years to my days as a dumbass kid drinking gallons of the stuff alongside two dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts after practices in the summer. As the smell of the coffee faded, the warming scents coming from the other tables began wafting my way. Reminiscent of many of the Indian restaurants we’ve been to, this was much stronger and was calling to me far more than anything I’ve ever had before. By the time our platter arrived I was almost foaming at the mouth.
We ordered a combination of beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables which was priced at $32 (their online menu is way out of date as it lists the same dish for $26.25). The platter arrived and while the picture does it absolutely no justice, it was fucking huge. Think like 1/3 of a table for four huge or, if you’re familiar, the Feast for Two at Famous Daves–but with more food. Thirteen+ items of stewed goodness. Everything from beets to salad to the most amazing lamb and a stewed hard-boiled egg with an incredible flavor that I cannot even describe. It was all served on top of some of the Injera bread which I ended up having to decimate after I ran out of the additional bread they served us. Only after we got down to the nitty gritty, and my stomach was already too full to shove much more in, did I pull out a fork and start digging through more to see what little morsels I could find.
This is definitely something that I recommend for groups of three or four. I ate way too much and I seriously did not even want to eat lunch the next day. The service was phenomenal, the meal was some of the best ethnic food I have ever had and it was another place where I wanted to go back and eat more as soon as we were out the door and driving home–much like when we tried Everest on Grand.
Have you ever eaten at Fasika in St Paul? If so, what did you think? Do you have any other recommendations that you’d like to give on specific dishes to try at Fasika? Have you eaten Ethiopian before elsewhere? If so where? Whatever you have to say about Fasika in St Paul go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear what you think!
Address:
Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant
510 Snelling Ave N
St Paul, MN 55104-2329
Phone:
651-646-4747
Vegetarian and vegan options available:
Yes
See all the pictures (all two of them) on Flickr here.
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October 9th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I’ve only been to Fasika once but loved it. We went a few years ago with some of my wife’s work friends that knew the owner, so they ordered for us, which worked well. I don’t remember what we had, but it was great. Ethiopian food is so damn good, but doesn’t get a lot of attention here, which is kinda shocking, considering how many east Africans we have in Mpls.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
We haven’t made it to Fasika yet, but I loved the food at Blue Nile at Franklin & Minnehaha and their bartender, Al, keeps a AWESOME set of beers on tap.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
We ate Ethiopian several years ago and were blown away with its deliciousness. We’ve been threatening to go again for ages, so the recommendation for Fasika is very welcome – Thanks!
October 9th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I’m in.. never been but in very intrigued now.
October 9th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
We have been to Dashen Restaurant & Bar on E Lake St. in Minneapolis which is an Ethiopian restaurant. I had never had Ethiopian before that visit so I didn’t know what to expect. I was a little surprised that they don’t use silverware, but the food was great and the portions were huge. We will have to try Fasika since it’s closer to where we live. Now I am hungry…
October 9th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Greetings from Tidewater, Va., y’all. Loved the meal and the company. Bill and I had a blast working our way through the piles of lentils, salads and meats. I can’t believe we couldn’t finish it, but I was really stuffed. Think we need a LazyLightning outing — we’d take over the whole place.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I love, love, love Fasika. My favorites are Doro Wat and Lamb Tibs. I used to work with a lot of Somalis and Ethiopians and each group agreed that Fasika is the place to go for outstanding Ethiopian.
Maybe I’ll be able to get there this weekend. I’m really crazing it now.
October 11th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I have been to Fasika a couple of times. Love it both times. But I have wondered if the injira should be served warm. Both the times I was there it was cold, like taken out of a fridge.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:59 am
That DOES look good.
October 12th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Ate at Blue Nile once. Bit into two rocks/dirt clumps in the lentils. Haven’t been back. Unacceptable!
October 12th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I’ve eaten at Fasika many times and have enjoyed it immensely each time. In fact, Fasika is my go-to restaurant for Ethiopian-food newbees.
But I have to show a little love for Dukem, an Ethiopian restaurant on West 7th in St. Paul. The food has been good but what sets it apart is the service and their willingness to be inclusive of the non-east-Africans in the room. I mean, not like I’ve ever felt excluded or looked over at Fasika or other Ethiopian restaurants in town. But at Dukem, they explain what the ingredients are, include you in their coffee ceremony, and etc. I didn’t feel like just another customer there.
November 3rd, 2009 at 4:35 pm
[...] White Bear Lake, Bill Roehl visits and enjoys the Minnesota Room in Mendota Heights and swoons for Fasika in St. Paul, Red Pepper is delighted by a deft vegetarian improv at Sea Change, Liz got 193 pounds [...]
October 20th, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] I am not well versed in any African foods, I have to admit that ever since my meal at Fasika in St. Paul with Art, I have fallen in love with African restaurants and can’t seem to get [...]
November 22nd, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Best Ethiopian I have had in ages…in addition to the standard dishes you see in every Ethiopian spot, we tried two I had never had: Qunta Firfir, sauce-soaked pieces of injera with pieces of dried beef shot through–just a bit softer than jerky, concentrated chewy beef flavor, yum! And Lamb Dulat, a pile of buttery spicy chopped lamb, lamb tripe, and liver. Awesome! Just a hint of tripey goodness, not very livery, 100% awesome. I did chicken out and have this dish cooked “medium” rather than “rare”…I am guessing that the real Ethiopian way to eat it si raw, like Kitfo, their steak tartare. Next time!