Expats in the kitchen: Hands-on Ethiopian dining comes to Prague

For members of the Ethiopian diaspora and those who have acquired a taste for the cuisine, finding authentic Ethiopian flavors in Prague has long been a challenge. Across online forums, expats lament the absence of restaurants serving up the spice-laden stews and sourdough flatbread that characterize the nation's cooking.

etCorner fills this gap, offering a homely retreat tucked away on Lipanská in Žižkov, where aromatic dishes seasoned with berbere, korerima (Ethiopian cardamom), and niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter) transport diners straight to Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian cuisine is deeply communal—meals are traditionally eaten with family and friends, gathered around a large mesob basket, sharing from the same plate. Injera, a spongy, slightly tangy flatbread made from teff flour, is both a staple and a utensil, used to scoop up richly spiced wats (stews). At etCorner, this experience is not just encouraged but essential to the way food is served.

The menu showcases a thoughtful selection of Ethiopian staples. Upon the recommendation of the attentive staff, we opted for doro wat, Ethiopia’s national dish, and the Mix It All Platter, an assortment of vegetarian dishes. The doro wat featured tender, slow-cooked chicken drumsticks bathed in a thick berbere sauce, infused with slow-sautéed red onions and subtle layers of heat. For spice enthusiasts, an extra dose of berbere is available upon request.

Meanwhile, the Mix It All Platter offered an array of textures and flavors—spiced lentils, silky ground chickpeas, sautéed greens, and hearty potatoes—each bite revealing a different facet of Ethiopia’s diverse vegetarian traditions.

The menu caters to both meat lovers and vegetarians, with highlights like kitfo, a minced beef dish comparable to steak tartare, and beyaynetu, a colorful combination of lentil stews and vegetable-based sides, ideal for those seeking a plant-based feast. To complete the experience, diners can partake in a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony—a ritual where beans are roasted, ground, and brewed in a jebena (a clay coffee pot), producing an intensely aromatic brew.

The restaurant’s simple yet welcoming decor—adorned with traditional Ethiopian artifacts such as woven mesob baskets and ceremonial urns—further enhances the sense of authenticity. But what truly sets etCorner apart is its community-driven ethos. Beyond serving food, the restaurant fosters cultural exchange, hosting bi-weekly gatherings where Ethiopians, Czechs, and international visitors can come together over a shared love of good food and conversation.

For those new to Ethiopian cuisine, etCorner is an eye-opening introduction; for those longing for a taste of home, it is a much-needed culinary haven. Either way, it offers something increasingly rare in modern dining—a meal that is as much about connection and tradition as it is about flavor.