Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant Menu
Welcome to Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant, a gem located at 1320 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA. This Black-owned and women-led establishment embraces Ethiopian culinary traditions, offering a warm and casual dining experience complemented by outdoor seating and a vibrant atmosphere. The menu features a delightful array of dishes that prioritize both flavor and quality.
- Eggs: Try the Ethiopian Scrambled Eggs, infused with fresh ingredients and spices for a savory start.
- Poultry: Indulge in the Ye Doro Wot, a tender chicken dish enveloped in a rich spicy Berbere sauce that promises to awaken your taste buds.
- Combinations: For an authentic experience, the Vegetarian Combo showcases essential Ethiopian staples, while the Meat Combination offers a delectable mix of lamb, chicken, and beef.
With options for vegetarians and vegans, alongside a welcoming environment for groups and families, Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant is a must-visit for those seeking a taste of Ethiopia in the heart of San Jose.
Eggs
Ethiopian Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs with onions, jalapeños and fresh tomatoes.
Ethiopian Scrambled Eggs w/Meat
Scrambled eggs with seasoned ground beef, onions, jalapeños, and fresh tomatoes.
Sambussa
Thin dough shells stuffed with lentils, onion, hot green and herbs. This meatless dish is lightly deep fried in vegetable oil to golden perfection.
House Salad
Zeni's famous green leaf salad topped with, tomatoes, onions and jalapeños in a zesty house dressing.
Appetizers
Poultry
Ye Doro Wot
Chicken leg drumsticks cooked to tenderness in a spicy Berbere (Ethiopian chili powder) sauce with onions, garlic, ginger and clarified butter. Served with a hard boiled egg and housemade cheese.
Ye Doro Tibs: Juicy
Boneless, skinless pieces of cubed chicken sautéed in a special blend of onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, and clarified butter.
Ye Doro Wot Fir Fir
Small pieces of Injera (Ethiopian bread) scrambled in Ye Doro Wot.
Ye Doro Tibs Fir Fir
Small pieces of Injera (Ethiopian bread) scrambled in Ye Doro Tibs: Juicy.
Ye Doro Tibs: Sizzling
Boneless, skinless cubed pieces of chicken stir fried in a special blend of spices, onions, and jalapeños.
Kitfo
Finely chopped prime beef from selected lean round steak. Seasoned with clarified butter and Mitmita (Ethiopian Chilli Powder). Served raw, medium or well done, along with a side of homemade cheese.
Alitcha Wat
Extra lean pieces of chopped beef braised in a mild stew consisting of spiced butter, onions, garlic, ginger and turmeric.
Zilzil Tibs
Strips of tender beef sautéed with onions and jalapeños.
Ye Bere Tibs Fir Fir
Scrambled pieces of Injera (Ethiopian Bread) in Ye Bere Tibs: Juicy.
Bozena Shiro
Zeni's highly seasoned milled chickpeas simmered in Berbere (Ethiopian chili powder) with selected cubes of lean beef.
Qeiy Wat
Hot and spicy beef stew. Very lean chopped beef simmered in a thick Berbere (Ethiopian chili powder) sauce and clarified butter.
Gored Gored
Lean cubed beef simmered in a blend of red peppers and clarified butter. Gored Gored is a traditional dish served raw or rare.
Ye Bere Tibs: Juicy
Chunks of lean beef sautéed with onions, tomatoes, jalapeños and clarified butter.
Fir Fir
Small pieces of Injera (Ethiopian bread) scrambled with deliciously tender pieces of beef, simmered to perfection in Berbere (Ethiopian chili powder) based sauce. Flavored with garlic and spices.
Ye Bere Tibs: Sizzling
Chunks of lean beef sautéed in a special blend of spices, onions and jalapeños.
Beef
Lamb
Ye Beg Tibs: Sizzling
Succulent pieces of fresh lamb sautéed with onions and jalapeños.
Ye-Beg Alitcha Wot
Mild stew with extra lean chopped pieces of lamb simmered in spiced butter, onions, garlic, ginger and turmeric.
Ye-Beg Tibs Fir Fir
Scrambled pieces of Injera (Ethiopian Bread) in a Berbere (Ethiopian chili powder) based sauce with succulent pieces of fresh lamb sautéed in clarified butter, onions, jalapeños, and tomatoes.
Dulet
Chopped red beef, lamb tripe, and lamb liver seasoned with herbed purified butter and Mitmita (Ethiopian Chili Powder). Served raw, mild or well done.
Ye Beg Tibs: Juicy
Succulent pieces of fresh lamb sautéed in clarified butter with onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños.
Ye Misir Wot
Puréed split red lentils simmered in Zeni's own mildly spicy Berbere (Ethiopian Chili Powder) sauce.
Atkilt Wot
A delicious vegetable medley including boiled chopped cabbage, sliced carrots, and potato chunks. Simmered with onions, garlic, ginger, and vegetable oil.
Ye Timatim Fit Fit
Sacrambled Injera (Ethiopian Bread) in a blend of fresh tomatoes, jalapeños, onions, and lime juice mixed with Zeni's exotic spices.
Foule
Cooked fava beans mixed with fresh tomatoes, jalapeños and herbs. Prepared with a choice of oil or butter.
Misir Kitfo
Puréed lentils mixed with Mitmita (Ethiopian Chili Powder), purified seasoned butter and herbs.
Kik Alitcha
Split yellow peas simmered in onions, garlic, ginger, and turmeric.
Gomen Wot
Chopped collard greens simmered in a mild mixture of onions, herbs, and oil.
Shuro Wat
Roasted and powdered imported chickpeas are simmered in our unique Berbere (Ethiopian Chili Powder) sauce with tomatoes, garlic and vegetable oil.
Ye Tsome Fir Fir
Scrambled Injera with a delicious berbere sauce, flavored with garlic and Ethiopian herbs.
Vegetarian entrées
Combinations
Vegeterian Combo
A combination of Ye Misir Wot (Red Lentils), Ye Kik Alitcha (Yellow Split Peas), Atkilt Wot (Vegetable Medley), Ye Gomen Wot (Collard Greens), and Ye Timatim Fitfit.
Meat Combination
A combination of Ye Beg Alitcha Wot (Lamb) or Alitcha Wot (Beef), Doro Tibs: Juicy (Chicken), Kitfo (Beef) and Iybe (Housemade Cheese). Kitfo is served raw, medium, or well done.
Yedoro Kitfo
Boneless, skinless, ground chicken soaked in a herbed butter sauce and Mitmita (Ethiopian Chili Powder).
Kikil Kitfo
Cooked and finely chopped prime beef from selected lean round steak seasoned with a herbed butter sauce and Mitmita (Ethiopian Chili Powder). Served with house-made cheese.
Zeni's Specialities
Desserts
Baklava
A traditional Greek pastry made with layers of bleached wheat flour fillo dough, filled with chopped walnuts, pistachios in a cinnamon-honey syrup.
