Altu's Ethiopian Cuisine
Average rating from 10 votes: 4.8 stars
East Lansing, MI
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Hours:
Tue-Sat 11am - 9pm - Cuisine: Ethiopian
- Table service: Yes
- Delivery: Yes
- Takeout: Yes
Reviews
First reviewed by cfusion
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Unique and Tasty Food
Altu's is the only Ethiopian cuisine option within an hour's drive of Lansing and we are lucky to have them here. They never fail to please. The food is sumptuous, tasty and often boldly flavored with mysterious (and authentic, I'm told) spices that range from mild to set-your-life-on-fire (if you ask for such).
For those who have never had the experience be prepared for something different. Order a dinner for two and you will be served a large platter layered with the signature Ethiopian spongy bread, upon which various components of the meal will be doled out. The traditional way to eat it (I suppose) is with your hands: take some bread, scoop up some food, and enjoy. Flatware is available for those disinclined to dive in with their fingers. Enjoy some spice tea while you dine.
I've always had prompt and friendly service here. My only markdown is because no towels are provided... Eating with fingers can get messy. Pricing is a little on the high side in my opinion, but this is not a complaint.
The ambiance is mostly ok, but being the small place that it is it can get quite noisy--especially when musicians are there, making it hard to have a conversation. -
Great Ethiopian in an informal atmosphere
I've had Ethiopian food in Washington DC, Ann Arbor, Detroit, San Francisco and this measures up to the best. Authentic- they use real teff for the Injira not just plain flour. A wide variety of both vegetarian and meat dishes, reasonably priced. I'd recomend teh chicken breast strips or the beef in spicy chick pea sauce highly.
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Cure for the common cold
If I feel like I might be getting the sniffles I go in and have a pinto bean or lentil spicy special on bread. The spice kicks the cold right out of me. I said something about it and was told that the spice is given to children, stirred into a warm glass of water, when they are coming down with a cold. It is a time tested remedy from Ethiopia.
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Not your mama's lima beans!
I love the vegetarian combo so much that I can't even try the meat options unless a friend is ordering them! The lima beans are to die for... and I really never thought I would say that! There is a great 'greens' mix that comes with the veggie items and the salad is wonderful, too. The bread took me by surprise at first because there's a slight vinegar taste to it, but now I LOVE it. I actually crave the food!
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anonymous
Jan 22, 2006Great for lunch
We took a party of about 20 people and ordered large plates for 2-3 people, who share the various entrees on the plate. Our group of 3 order the vegetarian plate for 2 -- it was more than enough food. The food is great and service fast. It was also very inexpensive -- each meal w/the soda on tap, cost about $6/person! Compared to my experience in the Ethiopean restaurant in Ann Arbor, this is a bargain and the food similar. The people who own it are from Ethiopia, so it's authentic -- it's a unique culinary experience!! I highly recommend giving it a try.
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Great vegetarian options
Altu's is one of the most vegetarian friendly places in the area. The food is consistently good and the service always friendly. The spicy lentils alone are worth the trip.
The ambience is very comfortable and low key, and there are often families with small children, college students, etc. The musical performances make for a good change from the East Lansing bar scene. -
ethiopian treat
Altu's has expanded from three small tables to basket tables and nicer decor. Altu has done a terrific job of maintaining quality while serving many more people in the store. She and her help are friendly and helpful,and if you like spicy food that goes down hot but settles wonderfully, try her Wednesday evening special chicken dish (or almost any item on the menu). Some vegetarian main courses, and a variety of African dishes. Makes one feel as though one is genuinely in a cosmopolitan University Town. Very reasonably priced. Folkish and low key music on some Saturday nights.
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Family Restaurant
The vegetarian selections are yummy, and several selections are very spicy. The bread is a spongy pancake that you use in place of silverware to scoop up your food. The staff are friendly and it's easy to become a regular. I'm addicted to their spicy peas and greens and it has become my regular "comfort food" stop.
Most of the vegetarian selections are a flavorful bean paste (like the texture of soft refried beans) but the meat dishes are more like a stew.
It's really fun to go in a group. You can get a "feast" that will let you try a variety of foods and everyone can share a feast.
Be warned, they are closed on Mondays. -
Good food...
They have a pretty creative eating scheme where you are supposed to eat with your hands .... this works out great.
However, the food, while good, was not extremely special.
Much different than what you'd normally get everyday though -- and for that, I'd recommend going at least once.
I have heard this food is also excellent for those vegetarians among us.
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