Downtown Columbia will soon experience the flavors of Ethiopian cuisine

Downtown diners will have another savory option when Mahi's Ethiopian Kitchen moves into Alley A.

The restaurant will be moving into the space at 905 Alley A, No. 101 recently vacated by Big Mama Chim's Noodle House. Facebook posts from last week show the restaurant's signage above the door with a message that their opening is "coming soon."

More: Signs point to closing of Chim's Thai Kitchen, Big Mama Chim's Noodle House

The restaurant's namesake chef helped operate an Ethiopian restaurant in Kenya, then lived among a "flourishing Ethiopian community" in California, according to the restaurant's website . Moving to Columbia, visions of carving out a new space became reality.

"Here, in a town with a modest Ethiopian presence, the ​community's craving for genuine Ethiopian fare was palpable. Tales of injera and doro wot, savored in ​distant metropolises, resonated with Mahi, fueling her aspiration," the website notes.

Mahi's previously operated out of CoMo Cooks on Business Loop 70 W. That shared kitchen has served local chefs well, creating a place to know and be known on the local food scene before opening their own dedicated locations.

More: The Loop continues to grow food-based businesses with opening of CoMoCooks new home

The menu posted on Mahi's website entices. Among the main dishes and their descriptions:

• Doro Wot: "a richly spiced, fragrant, and delicious chicken-and-egg stew"
• Sega Alicha Wot : "tender beef stew slowly simmered in curried turmeric sauce, garlic, Ethiopian butter, ​and authentic Ethiopian spices"
• Siga Firfir (Beef) Wot: "a hot and spicy beef stew mixed with injera pieces"

Other entrees, including pasta and rice dishes, are listed. Mahi's also offers a number of vegetarian options, centering chickpeas, lentils, cabbage, carrots, eggplant and more. Beverages include Ethiopian coffee and tea.

Keep up with the restaurant's progress and learn more at https://mahiethiopiankitchen.com/#main-dishes or by searching for Mahi's Ethiopian Kitchen on Facebook.

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Downtown Columbia will soon experience the flavors of Ethiopian cuisine