Adventures in Dining ~ Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant Food and Decor in Houston, Texas
By Peggy W
Pottery displayed inside of the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
The Food Network
Sometimes when watching television, and in particular the Food Network, my curiosity is sparked as to tasting world cuisines of which I am unfamiliar. This happened recently and because of listening to Melissa d'Arabian (who won season 5 of Food Network Star) describing the dish called Doro Wot on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" when singling out "Finger Foods" I wanted to try it. This is what led my journey accompanied by a good friend to the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant in Houston, Texas.
My friend is also an adventurous soul when it comes to sampling foods of which she is unfamiliar, and so we decided to share a lunch together.
Sharing is the operative word because this was to be a communal finger food experience.
Obviously clean hands are desired before beginning a meal such as this, and after watching the television program, I made sure to have some wet wipes in my purse just for some extra cleansing purposes. They were utilized...in fact, several of them!
Interior of Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant / Houston
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
Located outside of the 610 Loop, this family owned restaurant was opened in 1994 and has been rated by Zagat as well as Houston Chronicle newspaper readers as being representative of fine award winning Ethiopian cuisine.
It is in a non-descript commercial strip shopping center with paintings on the exterior glass representing scenery found in the country of Ethiopia.
East of Gessner and on the north side of the street, the address is 9400 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas 77063-3930.
Once they open their doors at 11AM on weekdays and at 9AM on Saturdays and Sundays, they remain open until 11PM each evening. Reservations can be made by calling 713-782-6882.
Exterior of Blue Nile Restaurant
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Inside the front door of the Blue Nile restaurant / Houston
Ethnic surroundings
When my friend and I entered the doors it was like entering into another world.
Exotic aromas of incense and spices tantalized our senses.
Warm colored walls were adorned with various types of Ethiopian art, some of which was framed and presented under glass and some of which appeared tethered to wooden sticks. Other artistic touches included some hand carved pieces and musical instruments were also mixed into the decor along with basketry and pottery.
A beautiful young woman (everybody except for a few people appear young to me these days!) greeted us in a very friendly and warm, welcoming manner.
She was dressed in what I assume is native costuming...a long white dress with some African appearing embellishments which conformed nicely to her tall and slender body.
Our pretty and convivial hostess led us to a white table-clothed table with white cloth napkins and comfortable wooden chairs.
Interior of Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant in Houston
After looking around at the ethnically inspired nicely decorated room, we started to peruse the items on the menu none of which was familiar to us.
Categories included vegetarian as well as meat items.
Obviously Doro Wat, being the food item viewed and shown on The Food Network, was on my list of items to try. Other than that, I had no idea what might be appealing.
Our hostess who was also our server that day came to the rescue. When she found out that this was our first time to visit the restaurant much-less try any Ethiopian food, she suggested that we try the Vegetarian Sampler and the Meat Sampler.
It would be presented all together on one plate for my friend and I to share. We agreed that this was probably a smart move and decided to take her up on her suggestion.
Interior decor of Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant in Houston
Click thumbnail to view full-size
- Doro Wat Recipe (Ethiopian chicken in red pepper paste) | Ethiopia | Whats4Eats
Doro wat is perhaps the best known food from Ethiopia and is often referred to as the Ethiopian national dish. This recipe makes a very tasty version with a deep, rich flavor and tender chicken pieces. - RecipeSource: Berbere Sauce (Ethiopian)
- Berber (Ethiopian Spice Mix) - The Congo Cookbook (African recipes) www.congocookbook.com -
Blue Nile restaurant / Houston
Doro Wot
Just what is Doro Wot? It is chicken prepared in a berbere sauce.
There are several recipes for berbere sauce as well as one for Doro Wot to the right in case the reader wishes to learn how to make it and one can also find the berbere sauce ready made if one has access to stores selling international ingredients.
Suffice it to say that berbere sauce and therefore the chicken dish called Doro Wot is a rich and sumptuously sauced entree with loads of ingredients rounding out those robust flavors. While some hot peppers are included, it was not overly spicy to our taste-buds. On the table was a salt shaker and also one filled with a red substance that we determined had some cayenne pepper and perhaps other spices which would have turned up the heat if utilized.
The Doro Wot featured on The Food Network was from a restaurant in Los Angeles and the chef took much time and lots of stirring in its preparation. Whether prep time in the Blue Nile restaurant in Houston requires a similar long time (or not) in making this dish, one thing that my friend and I agreed upon was that it is delicious.
Decor inside of Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant / Houston, Texas
Vegetarian Sampler and Meat Sampler combined from Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant / Houston
Vegetarian and Meat Lover's Delight
Food items served to us on that one large platter included the following:
- Gomen (chopped collard greens with garlic and green pepper)
- Atkilt Wot (a cabbage potato mixture that we found pleasing)
- Yemissir Wot (a good tasting red lentil preparation)
- Green lentils prepared with oil, onions and spices
- Kik Alicha (split peas...ours were yellow split peas with onion & spices)
- Doro Wot (the chicken in berbere sauce that lured us to this restaurant)
- Alicha Minchetabish (minced beef with spices)
- Yessiga Wot (beef cubes in berbere sauce & special herbs and spices)
- House Salad (lettuce leaves with tomato lightly dressed in oil & vinegar)
- Green Beans with onion, garlic, chopped tomatoes and pieces of carrot
As one can probably tell from this listing, my friend and I were not about to go hungry on this particular day!
Wall art at Blue Nile Restaurant in Houston, Texas
Using injera as a utensil at the Blue Nile Restaurant.
Teff
 | Amazon Price: $28.45 List Price: $32.16 |
Injera Bread
This spongy crepe-like bread called injera sat as a base under all of our food selections and was also served to each of us on separate plates to utilize in place of cutlery. Using our fingers and this bread to scoop up the food is what truly makes dining at the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant an occasion to be remembered.
One simply tears off little pieces of this spongy creation and uses it to pick up pieces of whatever one might be eating. Since this is a communal dining affair, this is where the clean hands and general respect with regard to manners and hygiene come into play.
We did see one diner who was eating his meal with a fork, so obviously it can be requested. Most other diners, like us, were using the injera bread as intended.
Injera is made from the smallest grain in the world called Teff.
Teff is very high in protein and also contains calcium, iron and fiber as well as all 8 amino acids useful in human health (among other attributes) so it is a very healthy food source.
Starting out much like sour-dough bread, injera is fermented thus giving the final product a slightly sour taste.
My fellow dining companion said that she could happily munch on injera anytime just by itself.
We both found it to be interesting and also pleasing to our taste buds.
Harvesting Tef by Hand in Ethiopia
Top spongy side and bottom smooth side of injera bread
Injera: Ethiopia's Secret Food
Ethiopia Blue Nile Falls...
Ethiopia and the Blue Nile
The area of Ethiopia is one of the earliest locations on earth for humankind. The human race is said to have originated in that locale and gradually spread out from there to the rest of the world over time.
The Blue Nile which is one of the major tributaries of the Nile River, some think originated in the Garden of Eden.
Ethiopia has a rich history and beautiful natural surroundings.
Three of the world's major religions all reside there. Christians, Muslims and Jewish people follow their creeds with the Christians being in the majority.
Getting to spend a bit of time in an Ethiopian restaurant like Houston's Blue Nile which has Ethiopian music softly playing; Ethiopian art adorning the floors and walls and typical Ethiopian food upon which to feast is like getting to enjoy a small microcosm of the large country of Ethiopia on the other side of the world.
Blue Nile River
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Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant decor in Houston, Texas
Ethiopian Tea Recipe
Ethiopian tea
Iced water with lemon was automatically served at our table and we chose to also have some Ethiopian tea instead of regular iced tea to accompany our lunch.
It was served in a footed glass mug with fragrantly scented hot water and a teabag of Ethiopian tea which we brewed to the strength we desired.
For those familiar with Chai tea, the mugs of Ethiopian tea had a similar flavor we decided...slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness.
The picture to the right shows how much of the food was left and which we divided between us in two take home containers after we had eaten all that we could of this spicy and delicious lunch.
What we found to be true is that the injera bread underlying the various dishes becomes infused with the flavors and is scrumptious all on its own.
Thus nothing goes to waste with this meal except for the chicken bone from the Doro Wot.
Ethiopian tea
 | Amazon Price: $18.99 List Price: $26.15 |
Blue Nile restaurant / Houston
Ethiopian coffee
Needless-to-say our appetites were sated that day but in reading about the Blue Nile restaurant there is another experience I hope to have on another occasion.
They have a coffee ceremony for a price of $20 in which one gets to participate in the pan roasting of the coffee beans as well as the grinding and brewing.
Considering that one of Ethiopia's greatest exports is coffee and they are well known for the quality of their beans, this sounds like it might be fun and a different way to spend part of a day.
Ethiopian coffee
 | Amazon Price: $44.77 List Price: $52.05 |
 | Amazon Price: $32.98 List Price: $39.58 |
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Location of Ethiopia in Africa
Ethiopia -
Summary
Hopefully you enjoyed my friend's and my Adventures in Dining at the Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant in Houston, Texas. Perhaps we will see you there sometime!
Does visiting an Ethiopian restaurant sound like something you would enjoy?
See results without votingVideo showing some of Ethiopian culture, landmarks & other info. with music
Other dining places for food or drink in and around Houston...
- Houston Italian Restaurant Photos ~ Homemade Italian Food to Make Your Grandmother Smile
Learn more about this charming and unique Italian restaurant serving delicious food that captures the red checkered tablecloth family friendly atmosphere in style. - Premier Shop in CityCentre Houston ~ Olive and Vine
Photos of great boutique in Houston selling top quality extra virgin olive oils & aged balsamic vinegars. Taste before you buy & learn about health benefits for both. - Brio Tuscan Grille ~ City Centre Houston ~ Restaurant Photos
An upscale Tuscan styled chain restaurant worth visiting! Beautiful decor and tasty food. We love the ambiance of Houston's Brio Tuscan Grille. - Delightful Fine Dining Experience ~ Sorrento Ristorante Italiano in Houston, Texas
- Pictures of Tucked Away Houston, Texas Escape ~ Tiny Boxwoods ~ Cafe and Nursery
- Houston Escape ~ Asian Decor ~ Relaxing Ambiance inside The Path of Tea
- Pictures of Goode Co. Texas Barbeque, Katy Freeway, Houston ~ A Feast for Kings or Cowboys
- Pictures and Impressions of Trattoria IL Mulino at Memorial City, Houston, Texas
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Comments
I am voting this Up as well. We have a Blue Nile Ethiopian in Columbus OH and the food is delicious. I wonder if it is a chain?
Hi alocsin,
I love trying new and different foods and cuisines. As they say..."Variety is the spice of life!" Thanks for your comment & votes.
I'm glad you enjoyed your experience, Peggy. A lot of people refuse to leave their comfort zone with food, and they miss out on some delicious cuisines. We have an Ethiopian district here in Los Angeles, and I've enjoyed their food many times. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Hello LuxmiH,
So glad that you enjoyed this dining adventure at the Blue Nile and learned (as we did) a bit more about the food and culture of Ethiopia. Thanks for your comment and votes. Appreciate it!
I loved the comprehensive way that you covered every aspect of what could have been a plain old dining experience. Brilliant! Even showing the reader where Ethiopia is on the map!
This Hub does so much more than tell about the food, it shines the light on the country and culture too.
I smiled at your statement:""everybody except for a few people appear young to me these days!)" I can relate.
I totally enjoyed the experience vicariously through your composition. Bravo! Voted up and interesting.
Hello Coolmon2009,
Hope you enjoy eating at the Blue Nile Restaurant as much as my friend and I did. We found it to be not only a fun experience but enjoyed the flavors of the food as well. Thanks for your comment.
When I was in that area of Houston, I remember seeing that restaurant, but I never stopped. Your article is intriguing; I will have to eat lunch or dinner there next time i am in the area. Thanks for bringing this place to my attention.
I have seen this restaurant before, but I never ate there. Your article is intriguing. I will have to eat there next time i am in that part of Houston. Thanks for bringing this place to my attention.
Hi Om,
My friend and I liked the injera especially when it had soaked up all the flavor of what sat on top of it. Like you, my Ethiopian food experience is only once...but hope to change that and have some more of it soon. Thanks for your comment.
I've tried Ethiopian food once. I loved the doro wot and Ethiopian tea, but wasn't impressed by the injera. I guess it's a bit too spongy for me. If I go to Houston, I'll certainly try this restaurant. Their interior decor looks very lovely. Voted up and awesome!
Hello redfiery,
Hope you get to eat some Ethiopian food someday so that you can learn the flavor profiles and experience it for yourself. Thanks for your comment.
I would love to try out these one day..Thanx for sharing a wonderful article. I hope to read more from u..
Regrds
Hi Eiddwen,
It was a fun experience to taste (and like) Ethiopian food. Do you have any similar restaurants in your part of the world? Thanks for your comment.
Brilliant Peggy and I have to vote up, up and away here.
Thanks for sharing this gem.
Take care
Eiddwen.
Hello livelonger,
I think that the Blue Nile does have that drink. Thanks for the heads up. May try that the next time I have a meal there. Thanks for your comment and tip.
Now you have my mouth watering! I love Ethiopian food, and your descriptions and pictures really brought back a flood of memories from the last time I had Ethiopian food, which was probably about 6 months ago. Another thing to try the next time you're at Blue Nile is honey wine, which I hope they have available. It's refreshingly cool, sweet, and has a unique taste.
Hello hafeezrm,
Getting to dine with a host in Addis Ababa and eating delicious food using injera in place of cutlery...what a treat that would have been! Thanks for stopping by to tell us of this visit and your enjoyment of the food.
Once I had a two-day stopover at Addis Ababa. I was taken to a restaurant by my host which apparently looked ordinary but what a delicious food it served. Your mention of injera and using it as a cutlery brought back old memories. Thanks.
Hello J Burgraff,
That would be fun to make your own Ethiopian recipes and with the fresh and available injera bread...voila!...you will have a great meal! I'm available for lunch or dinner! Ha!
What a great hub. We have a lot of Ethiopian restaurants in Portland and I continue to try new ones. We also have three stores down the street that sell fresh injera bread on a daily basis, so...I'm thinking I'm going to have to try to make some of these recipes.
Hello Lisa K,
It would be fun to experience the coffee ceremony sometime at the Blue Nile Ethiopian restaurant. For certain it would be something out of the normal day to day routines we generally have.
This looks like a wonderful place! You certainly became very well educated on the foods of Ethiopia from your experience at the restaurant and researching for the hub. I would like to try the coffee ceremony! Kind of like high tea, but more hands on.
Hi Billy,
The decor is interesting and different. Might be a good date night for you and your wife. Unless your boys are adventurous eaters, it might be too different for their tastes. You would know!
Haven't checked it out but I forgot to mention how cool the decor loos - I think the whole family will enjoy that aspect (just in case they don't like the food :) )
Hi Hello, hello,
It was an unforgettable experience...one that I hope to have again. Thanks for the visit and comment.
Hi Thelma,
It is fun to try different foods once in a while. If you do indeed go to an Ethiopian restaurant, hope you enjoy the experience as my friend and I did at the Blue Nile in Houston. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Prasetio,
It was my first time to try Ethiopian food also. Glad that you enjoyed this hub and thanks for your comment. If you get a chance, give this type of food a try. Would be curious to see what you think of it.
That must have been an unforgettable experience. Thank you for sharing.
Voted up! I like this hub. It is very informative and the pictures are very cosy and oriental. I love it. Although I have not been to an Ethiopian restaurant, I will try when I see one of these restaurant nearby. Thanks for sharing.
Nice report, Peggy. It seem cozy restaurant. I love all reviews and the pictures represent how this restaurant so great. I had never taste Ethiopian food before. It looks interesting and delicious. Well done, my friend. Vote up and useful. Take care!
Prasetio
Hello Lindsay Godfree,
Glad that you liked this hub about the Blue Nile restaurant. Have you visited and eaten there?
Hi Billy,
It was fun to try something new and unfamiliar and it ended up that my friend and I both enjoyed it. Will definitely wish to have more Ethiopian food in the future. Let me know what you think when you visit there. It is a bit spicy for the uninitiated palette! :))
Great article and so thorough in covering the food, the photos, videos, Wow!
Peggy I have never tried Ethiopian food before - Moroccan about as close I have gotten - will definitely check the Blue Nile out.
Hi Cheryl,
Dining at the Blue Nile restaurant was a lot of fun and especially sharing the experience with a good friend like you. Thanks for the complimentary comment. :)))
Great food and a very pleasant atmosphere. One will not be disappointed by trying Ethopian foods. My first visit was wonderful. The food is a little spicy and delicious. The injera is great. Beautiful art throughout the entire restaurant. Eating without silverware was a lot of fun. You are introducing a great hub, photos and videos of this unique Ethopian Restaurant. You are a true artist and a Woman with Lots of Class. Great hub.
Hi dahoglund,
If you ever travel to the larger cities such as Minneapolis, Milwaukee or Chicago perhaps they might have an Ethiopian restaurant? We enjoyed the experience, the flavors of the food and learning more about Ethiopia in general. Thanks for your comment.
I don't believe there are any Ethiopian restaurants in my neck of the woods, but it was an interesting read.Nice pictures.
Hi dallas93444,
Learning more about the country of Ethiopia, the Blue Nile, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony, etc. was interesting for me as well when writing this hub. Trying and enjoying the food was just one part of the experience. Thanks!
Interesting: flag up!
Hi Mary J.,
Consider this to be your reminder to visit the Blue Nile Ethiopian restaurant again. I'm still eating my leftovers! Since most of the items are stewed, they are just as good as when first eaten, the only exception being the salad. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Kelley Eidem,
The Ethiopian food was not only delicious (and as you say "yummy") that day...but was also great as leftovers. Glad that I could bring back some good memories for you. Thanks for your comment. :))
I love your restaurant reviews.
Yummy. Call me next time you go to Blue Nile. I love it and always forget to go there.
Ethiopian food! Mmmm!
It has been 20 years since I've had any. But it is soooo much fun and yummy, yummy, yummy. The meat and spices are to die for.
Thank you for bringing back memories, Peggy! You took some beautiful photos, too.
Your writing is also enticing, as usual.
Peggy W 2 days ago
Hi Patty,
I believe that this one is locally owned and I doubt that it is part of a chain...but I could be wrong. Is the decor similar in your Columbus, Ohio restaurant? Often with chains, everything is fairly consistent even as to the decor. Thanks for your comment and vote.