San Jose Restaurant Guide

Welcome to Ghion! You can now relax and enjoy our most authentic and traditional Ethiopian dining and cultural experience in our spacious, warm and friendly environs.

Dining Ethiopian style is characterized by the Biblical tradition of "breaking bread together", using the same injera and sharing the same meal from a common plate. Such family-like sharing of food has social significance in Ethiopia. It is believed to break barriers and strengthen the bonds of friendship and loyalty. The essence of untainted friendship is displayed in the form of gursha where one hand feeds a fellow dinner in an expression of total endearment.

Injera, the traditional Ethiopian staple, is part of every entree. Injera - a large, flat, slightly tangy and spongy crepe/pancake, imprinted on top with bubbles - is made from Teff, a fine grain unique to Ethiopia. Injera is both the serving platter and your utensil when eating Ethiopian style.

The Ethiopian way of eating is with the fingers, which in itself is a delicate art. Food is served on centerpiece platters of colorful dishes decoratively arranged over the injera, accompanied by plates of more injera, rolled up for ease of use. To eat, you simply tear off a bite sized piece of injera and place it on the wot of your choice while simultaneously pinching your fingers to pick up the amount you desire. The injera on the serving tray which soaks up the savory sauce that is essential to every dish is finger-licking delicious to enjoy.

Ethiopian dishes utilize a sophisticated array of spices and flavorings to produce a rich and flavorful taste. Wot, a somewhat thick, stew-like dish, comes in a variety of forms - beef, lamb, chicken and vegetables. It is prepared in an exotic blend of spices both robust and subtle. Many of our delicacies, kei wot, are on the spicy side, while some others, alicha wot, rely on more subtle and mild combinations.