The “speakeasies” in town should take a page from Mesob: no other place in town better hides its treasures. Go to the no man’s land by Swedish Medical, get past the dumpsters outside the restaurant, and head to the back—to a Tiki-like bar room with several booths and about five small tables. This is where you’ll find some of the best Ethiopian food in the city.

The best thing to order is the veggie combo platter, which arrives with plenty of injera (the spongy bread that you use to pick up the food), lentils, potato-cabbage-carrot salad, and, of course, the numerous unidentifiable concoctions that turn up on veggie platters.

Sambusas and tomato salad are the best starters. Mesob has a pretty good selection of beer—good Ethiopian representation plus one or two U.S. beers on tap—which really helps wash down some of the spicier dishes. All of this is particularly welcome in the wee hours, when Mesob turns into one of Seattle’s late-night stars.