Serves meat, vegan options available. Has over a dozen vegan appetizers and main courses. The injera can be made gluten-free upon request in advance. The restaurant seats 35+ and gets crowded at dinner. Located right on the downtown Ithaca Commons, making it accessible to shopping and nightlife. Open Tue-Thu 3:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sun 12:00pm-9:00pm.
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113 S Cayuga St (at State St and Green St), Ithaca, New York, USA, 14850
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Last update on 18 Apr 2023 by filazel
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Added by Amber Gilewski on 21 Mar 2015
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21 Reviews
First Review by Amber Gilewski
lyngle
Points +37
Best Ethiopian in the NE - Edit
I’ve had Ethiopian in loads of cities in the NorthEast, but most blow compared to Hawi. Not only is it the best tasting, but you get plenty of it. Sadly no 5* because they offer meat dishes, but their vegan dishes are absolutely 5*.
Read morePros: Vegetarian combo for 1,2,3 or 4.
Guest
Desh
Points +1189
Probably best Ethiopian in Ithaca - Edit
I went there once the food was good. All the standards of a good Ethiopian restaurant
Read moreGuest
tgolder
Points +306
Vegetable platter - Edit
This was delicious! The platter offers 7 different vegan options. Very good. Service was a little slow but overall a good experience
Read moreGuest
The_Seitanist
Points +1431
Wonderful - Edit
Absolutely delicious food. SO many flavors! We got the veggie plate for 2, and it was too much for us 😂
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options
Guest
veganbarb
Points +52
Veggie Combo has 7 Vegan Items - Edit
Was looking for something a little different and found Hawi. We don't often come across Ethiopian Restaurants unless we are in larger cities, so was pleasantly surprised to find this one while visiting Ithaca. We ordered takeout on the way back to the hotel from the wineries. The Veggie Combo was perfect for the two of us.
Read moreWill definitely go back next time we are Ithaca.
Guest
antgirl
Points +285
I love their veggie combo plate (all VEGAN!) - Edit
I love Ethiopian food and this place does not disappoint. I always get the veggie combo plate so I don't have to choose and it is all good! The mushroom appetizer is surprisingly delicious and I could drink the sauce.
Read morePros: All veggie options are by default vegan, Great place to go with a group
Cons: They do not serve beer or wine, but it is BYOB, The interior is pretty plain, but fine
Guest
StephanieLanger
Points +922
Best Ethiopian in Ithaca - Edit
Always enjoy the veggie platter here. Everything is so flavorful. Ask if they have the full Teff Injera, for a more authentic meal.
Read moreGuest
TracyWeb
Points +737
Great Ethiopian food - Edit
If you go here make sure you order the sambusas. They were delicious; definitely some of the best I’ve ever had. Vegetarian combo platter was very good too. Vegan/vegetarian section of the menu was very clearly labeled.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-07-12
Guest
happycowgirl
Points +5631
Awesome - Edit
Great drink options like Ethiopian coffee, Ethiopian tea, peanut coffee and tea, Sprece which is strawberry and mango smoothie poured together and Hawi special - it's a non-dairy iced blend of sesame powder and honey.
Read moreALL items in the veggie combo are vegan.
Guest
Seth_Yaman
Points +19
Great flavors and whole food plant based options! - Edit
My wife and our 3 kids love coming here. It’s the first Ethiopian restaurant we’d tried a few years back, and since going to some others, Hawi is our favorite. The veggie platter for 3 is our go to, and is plenty of food. It gives a nice sampling of all the vegan dishes. Gluten free injera bread is delicious and $2.50 more. On busy nights the service can be slow. If you’re in a hurry, opt for takeout!
Read morePros: Nourishing, delicious food, Variety of flavors, Nice atmosphere
Cons: Slow service when busy
Guest
KitMcGrath
Points +270
Excellent service - Edit
They were very accommodating for my friend with several debilitating allergies, and the food is always excellent. One of my favorite restaurants to treat myself to.
Read morePros: Excellent service
Cons: Expensive
Guest
veggieDev
Points +16
favorite food in Ithaca - Edit
the food is phenomenal! i always order a platter, and I'm gonna start adding a side of lentils. it is a little expensive but portion sizes are big. they vary a bit, really, but it's always plenty.
Read morePros: delicious
Cons: $$
Guest
hrettig
Points +106
Overpriced, nothing special - Edit
I hate to write a neg of any restaurant that offers lots of vegan options, but Hawi is not great food. All the flavors and textures kind of mush together. And they charge a premium for it.
Read morePros: nice setting
Cons: expensive, so-so food
Guest
DanimalPanda
Points +478
Full O Flava - Edit
This is a nice veg-friendly place. Laid back atmosphere, super good food. All of the vegetarian plates are vegan, and a combo of all seven is vegan paradise served over injera bread. Because of their vegan-friendliness, they get props. The best Ethiopian food we've ever had was Cafe Desta in Tucson. This place is good too, but we'll keep coming back to see if some nights are better than others.
Read morePros: Friendly, laid back atmosphere
Cons: Food is great, but could be so much better, Nothing fresh in the vegetable combo (salad), 2p sampler is too $$ for the quality/quantity
Guest
Jo Zee
Points +36
Disappointed! - Edit
After having eaten Ethiopian food at Lucy's Kitchen in Toronto Canada I had high hopes that I'd enjoy a great meal at Hawi. But when the food came it was lacking. It was extremely hot in the place, uncomfortably so! The food wasn't all that great and my in-laws felt they were short changed with their food. So, I would only give this 2 stars. I think this restaurant could do better! We did express our feelings, but the fellow who was very nice just giggled..
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2017-10-01
Pros: Service was fast and friendly.
Cons: Short changed on food., Extremely hot inside the place.
Guest
emily321
Points +16
Awesome!! - Edit
Clean, items clearly marked vegan or made vegan optional. service was very good and very helpful in verifying what was vegan, or could be made vegan. also staff very kind with any other questions and in general. Wonderful!!!! Would certainly go again !!!!!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, plus deserts that can be ma
Cons: Sort of on the expensive side, but not too bad.
Guest
NolanGuiffre
Points +61
Outstanding Ethiopian Vegan-Friendly Food - Edit
Hawi is an excellent choice for vegans or vegetarians located right in downtown Ithaca. I had the vegetable platter which was a sampling of eight different vegetable entrees for only $14 per person for the lunch special. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Ethiopian food.
Read morePros: Oustanding Food, Many Vegan Options, Friendly Service
Cons: A Little Pricey at Dinner, Serves Meat
Guest
toulousey
Points +51
Fantastic Ethiopian Food - Edit
I tried them for the first time recently, and was extremely impressed. We came for dinner and didn't have a reservation (just taking a chance!) and they made us feel welcome and did their best to get us a table as swiftly as possible. Once seated, the friendly service continued, and I had the veggie combo - wow! Some of the best Ethiopian food I've had ever. So glad they are in town and doing well. Can't wait to go back! Would definitely give them 5 cows if they were all veg!
Read morePros: Friendly service, Fantastic food, Generous portions
Guest
KMR607
Points +355
working out the kinks, but worth it - Edit
First off, this is a new place and they are still working out some stuff in terms of management and service, which is not to say that the service isn't warm and friendly, just not an efficient well-oiled machine. But the food is delicious! And everything "veggie" is vegan. The prices are a bit high for this town but maybe it will help them survive an awful landlord. I hope so!
Read moreGuest
DanaSvenja
Points +11
Great food, Slow service - Edit
Hawi is a great new addition to the wonderful restaurants we have in Ithaca. The food was interesting and flavorful, but we had to wait an hour and a half for our food and had to ask our friendly waiter three times for a diet coke.
Read morePros: Good Food, Good atmosphere , friendly staff
Cons: Long wait time, Bread was a bit too sour, Tables too close together
Guest
Amber Gilewski
Points +117
Amazing Ethiopian food with many vegan options - Edit
We've been to Hawi twice since it opened on 3/11/15 and are so excited that there is finally an Ethiopian restaurant in Ithaca! The food is amazing! We've had wonderful Ethiopian in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. and this is just as good, if not better.
Read moreWe had the veggie combo platter both times and were blown away with all of the flavors. The beets were an interesting addition and bring another dimension of color and taste to the meal. We had the vegetable sambusa as an appetizer and it was crispy, delicious, and had a nice, slightly spicy sauce. The restaurant is BYOB with a $5 corking fee per bottle. Gluten-free injera is available upon request with advance notice.
Hawi is one of the most vegan-friendly restaurants in town currently. There are easily over a dozen vegan options on the menu. The location is great: right on the Commons near shopping, the theater, and nightlife.
Since the restaurant is still relatively new, they have been swamped and are still hiring help. Be prepared for a long wait and slow, but friendly service. We plan on being regular customers now that there is this much needed cuisine downtown.
Pros: Many vegan options, Only Ethiopian food in the area, High quality
Cons: Long wait, Slow service, Corking fee
Jo Zee
It sounds amazing. I go to one in Canada, in Toronto called Lucy's on Danforth Avenue. If it can do half as good as Lucy's I'm going to give them a try, thanks for the info.
Read moreGuest
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