Although Karibu’s arched windows and tiled patio suggest a Mexican restaurant, this happy little Eastside spot is one of Austin’s three—count ’em, three!—Ethiopian places. It’s popular for a $6.99 lunch buffet, but the meats served from the steam table seem somehow less spicy than when served at dinner. For the best range of experiences here, try both a meat combo and a veggie combo, with three different choices in each. Doro wat, the national dish, has a deep layering of spices and tender chicken drumstick, as well as the requisite over-boiled egg. Beef dishes are not greasy at all; spicy kay wot is more exciting than alicha wot, although the latter is very good in its own right. Definitely choose collards—their metallic sweetness balances out neighboring vegetable choices, whether smoky and spicy (red azifa lentils) or brown-sugary sweet (tomato-sauced green beans). The injera (otherwise known as the world’s tastiest fork) is sturdy but pliant, and its lightly citric sourness complements each flavor ideally.

Karibu really takes its name (which means “welcome” in Swahili) to heart: service is friendly and the digs are aesthetically pleasing, even despite the flatscreen TV. There’s a drinks-only happy hour from 4pm–7pm throughout the week, and on Friday and Saturday nights, a DJ spins Afrobeat, reggae, and world music until 2am, with service industry specials.