Tsion Welcomes You
We invite you to Tsion Cafe, established in Harlem in 2014, for a unique dining experience or just for drinks. We aspire to feed both body and soul with delightful culinary blends and fine art.
Our mission is to provide flavorful, healthy, nutritious meals at competitive prices.
We include organic ingredients whenever possible. We take pride in daily making our items fresh. For example, our injera (Ethiopian flatbread) is freshly made every day on-site. We serve two types of injera: gluten-free 100% teff and teff mixed with wheat flour. Whichever you prefer!
Our wot (delicious stews) are vegan and wholesome, such as messer wot (red lentils), Shiro (chickpeas) , gomen (collard greens), atakilt (cabbage, carrot and potatoes) or Kik alicha (yellow split peas). They are all cooked to perfection in the authentic Ethiopian way.
Whether vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or omnivore, you can count on tasty choices at Tsion Cafe. We specialize in Ethiopian, Israeli, and Middle Eastern cuisine. Our menu options incorporate a variety of continental African cuisines, as well. We offer a full bar of international beers, wines, and cocktails to top off our delicious dishes.
In Ethiopia, hospitality is key. Ethiopians share a communal quality to consuming food and beverages. Not only do we traditionally eat with our hands (i.e., without utensils), literally we feed each other with delicate gurshas (mouthfuls of food), as a sign of love.
Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, wins the prize for the most precious, sweet, and savory coffee beans in the world. We serve organic Ethiopian coffee here at Tsion Cafe. You can partake of a delicious espresso or an exquisite coffee martini. On special occasions, we perform traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremonies at Tsion Cafe. You are invited to participate in this wonderful (or beautiful) cultural expression.
For an even more memorable experience, we recommend our guests wash their delicious meals down with an ancient recipe of honey wine (tej) made locally in New York.
We don’t just focus on the body; we aim to inspire through visual art, poetry, and music.
We grace our walls with beautiful artwork by local artists from the neighborhood and beyond.
We regularly hold live music events and poetry nights to honor the legacy of Jimmy’s Chicken Shack, the former occupant of our building and a world-renowned institution. We remember the talented people that passed through these doors during the heyday of the Harlem renaissance, such as Redd Foxx, Charlie Parker, Malcolm X, Billie Holiday, Hazel Scott, Art Tatum and many more incredible people.
As an Ethiopian-Israeli that calls Harlem home, I want to celebrate my vast heritage with you. I hope to share my rich culture (namely, delicious African food) with my new community in Harlem.
Tsion Cafe is a place where we harmonize flavors from Ethiopia, Israel, and the ever diverse New York - a true accomplishment you can be a part of.
Please come visit us soon for a unique cultural and dining experience!