Our friends from Portland stayed with us in Cape Town for two weeks last month and we had an absolute blast. Even though it was winter, the weather cooperated for most of their visit and we packed in plenty of sightseeing and local experiences. Of course we did the big tourist things—like posing for a photo at the Cape of Good Hope sign—but we also enjoyed more low-key, authentic moments around the city.
 |
| Awesome friend 1, awesome friend 2, me, Fiance |
We even went on a safari, which may have been the highlight of the trip. But among those big-ticket activities, we also explored the local scene—one evening we wandered down Long Street to sample bars and live music, and before that we had a memorable dinner at Addis in Cape, an Ethiopian restaurant tucked away near the bustle.
Apologies for the low-light photos—I only had my iPhone with me and the restaurant’s lighting was very cozy. Still, the meal was a treat. We began with an appetizer of fried injera. Injera is a thin, spongey flatbread made from ground teff; it soaks up stews and sauces beautifully, and frying it adds a delightful crunch.
Our main plate arrived as a large sheet of injera topped with a variety of dishes piled together. Selections included doro wat (spicy stewed chicken), kai sega wat (close to the key wat beef stew), yebeg alicha (slow-cooked lamb), prawns Addis in Dar (prawns in a tomato sauce), misir wat (spicy red lentils), kek alicha (stewed yellow chickpeas), gomen (a leafy green similar to collards), and a simple tomato salad. The range of flavors—from rich and spicy to bright and fresh—worked wonderfully together.
There’s no need for utensils: rolls of injera are provided so you scoop and share the various stews and salads with your hands. Eating this way makes the meal communal and fun, and you end up tasting a bit of everything.
For dessert we enjoyed baklava—one of my all-time favorites—and then, as a delightful finish, the restaurant served strong Ethiopian coffee alongside a bowl of popcorn. That unexpected touch of popcorn with coffee was one of the highlights for me.
The entire meal felt like a friendly, authentic experience rather than a tourist performance. If you find yourself in the area and enjoy trying diverse cuisines, I highly recommend Addis in Cape for a relaxed, flavorful evening.
If you can’t visit in person but want to explore Ethiopian flavors at home, try making key wat (spicy Ethiopian stewed beef) at home—it’s straightforward and very satisfying.