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# Alif Brew & Mini Mart – Ethiopian café and grocery in Philadelphia
Alif Brew & Mini Mart is a unique Ethiopian café and grocery located in Philadelphia, PA. This vibrant spot combines the warmth of a café with the convenience of a mini-mart, offering a diverse array of Ethiopian dishes and grocery items. Established with a vision to create a community hub, Alif Brew has garnered a loyal following for its flavorful offerings and welcoming atmosphere. Customers rave about the injera platters, wraps, and a variety of snacks, including addictive injera chips. The café also serves a selection of beverages, including coffee and chai, making it a beloved destination for both locals and visitors.

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This place? A whole vibe. Half mini-mart, half café, all flavor. I originally came through on a Too Good To Go haul, and now I'm here constantly--sometimes for a deal, sometimes just 'cause I need it in my life. Let's start with the mini-mart side, aka my happy place. They carry these crack-level addictive injera chips in rosemary, mild, and spicy--YES, I've tried them all, and YES, they're all elite. I keep saying I'll pace myself, but nah. Also obsessed with their zero-sugar digestive cookies?? I don't even know where else to find these, and honestly, I don't wanna know. Alif is my plug now. On the café side, the hot Ethiopian food is consistently . My all-time fave is the yellow split pea dish (Kik Alicha)--so flavorful, creamy, and comforting, like a warm hug from someone's grandma. It comes with two glorious rolls of injera, soft and tangy, perfect for scooping up every last bit. If you know, you know. There's a cute little seating nook to the right of the register, plus a few outdoor tables for soaking up some sun with your sambusa. The staff? Super quick and helpful whenever I ask questions--they always know what's up and don't mind me geeking out over new snacks. Also came by during the Dollar Stroll and tried their Ethiopian wraps, and--whew. How do I describe them? Imagine rich, spicy, savory magic wrapped in injera and handed to you for ONE DOLLAR. I was shook. It's no wonder I've been back like five times... and probably forgot to check in at least half of those visits. Oops. ‍ TL;DR: Alif Brew is my comfort café + snack haven rolled into one. If you haven't been, GO. And grab me a bag of spicy injera chips while you're at it.

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So much natural light and good food vibes! I came in just to get a lentil and beet salad and was welcome with a free sample to one of the little desserts. I'm not even the biggest fan of eating beets, but when I tell you they make the best beef salad anywhere, I'm telling you they make the best beet salad lol Happy wind down Wednesday!

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Alif Brew & Mini Mart is a grocery store mixed with a cafe, serving up Ethiopian eats. The injera platters and wraps are delicious options. --- The casual eatery has a wide variety of typical cafe drinks (coffee, tea, chai) along with Ethiopian foods and drinks. The grocery section is stocked with a variety of spices, snacks, and home goods . You order and pay at the counter and take your food to go or for dine in. I got the injera Everything Platter, chicken injera wrap and vegetable injera wrap. Our food came out fairly quick (~ 10 minutes), which was impressive as there was only one individual taking orders and prepping them, and it was so busy! We self-seated at one of the tables. There are ~ 10 small tables and ~ 5 seats for counter seating. Alif Brew was fairly quiet, despite how busy it was, and there is free WiFi for patrons. I shared the Everything Platter (chicken, beef, and side of vegetables) between two people and we found it to be a good portion to get comfortably full, but not stuffed. The variety of vegetables in the platter was enjoyable, but my favorites on the platter were the cabbage, chickpeas, and beef. I found some pieces of beef were a little tough, but it had good flavor so I didn't mind too much. The teff injera wraps were the right spongey texture and sourness, and I only wish there was more on the plate. I would definitely order this again. The chicken and vegetarian injera wraps were essentially different contents from the Everything Platter, but now in wrap form. I didn't really enjoy how mushy the wraps got since I took these to go. They ended up not holding their structure well when taking bites. I would definitely only recommend ordering the injera wraps if they can be eaten fresh or near fresh! However, I would order these again for sure, as well, since the filling was delicious. Overall, I had a great, no-fuss experience at Alif Brew and I'm sad I didn't try it earlier. I highly recommend a taste of their Injera Platters and I look forward to being back soon to try more of the menu.

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Our kids can't stop talking about how great the food is here and I couldn't agree more! During our very short visit, we came multiple times for the fantastic food, items at the Mart, and beverages. I bought a package of crunchy Injera and O-M-G they are so good (I got the Garlic and Salt but they have spicy and other flavors as well). It was perfect with the Foul which was out of this world. So tasty and hearty. We also got the vegetarian platter (delicious) and pastries. I can't remember the names of the teas but they also were delightful. It was everything they said it was and more. I can't wait to come back.

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Great neighborhood place. Wonderful coffee and food options. Well stocked mini market with African goods.

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There are many more options at Alif than I realized. The injera I have from TooGoodToGo is random and with the well done and combination of ingredients available, it is really nice. I read one review of the poor soul who got one croissant for 3.99. TooGoodToGo shouldn't work like that. Just give more food or more of something if your business screwed up offering Too many TooGoodToGos and people had to travel to get to you. There is a buffet setup for the injera. Seeing the buffet setup and everything else being "random" mini mart items, I was leaning toward 4 stars. But then I read the other reviews, saw pictures of quality coffee and other entrees for which I did not see a menu off quick glance, and I was sold. I will definitely stop here for coffee when I am in the area again at least. Jun 9 update: had their ginger coffee and you can defin taste the coffee. The ginger was defin there but not overpowering. I probably would've been okay with a stronger ginger flavor but I think most people would not like this. Reasonably good stuff. Not my fave personally but could definitely go for.

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Food and drinks so good you don't care that all the chairs sit crookedly ....................................... :*

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The platter was enjoyable. I tried the spicy lentils, greens, and beef. The flavors weren't particularly memorable but satisfying for a quick market meal. The injera was well made, with a nice spongy texture and the right sourness. The baklava, however, was served cold and felt like it had just come out of the fridge, which wasn't ideal and made it less enjoyable. The staff was pleasant, and the seating area is spacious and comfortable, with a peaceful vibe. You'll often see people relaxing with their computers, which adds to the cozy atmosphere.

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I'm a big fan of this place. It's definitely one of the better cups of iced coffee I've had in the city. The flavor is both bold and smooth at the same time. You can't beat Ethiopian coffee. Today I went for the egg bowl for a late breakfast. The flavors they use really bring out the best. I've had an injera wrap here in the past and loved that too. And the atmosphere to me beats any of the pretentious Center City spots out there. I think this place just became my favorite coffee shop in the city.

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This place has my favorite chai in the whole world. It's so wonderfully spiced and aromatic and so reasonably priced!! I moved away from Philly but I miss this place so bad!!!! Will be visiting ASAP when I can make it back :,)

Discover Alif Brew & Mini Mart in Philadelphia for authentic local flavors and a unique dining experience. Visit now and indulge in delicious treats in the heart of Philadelphia.

Alif Brew & Mini Mart in Philadelphia - Local Flavors & Unique Dining

Philadelphia

Alif Brew & Mini Mart

Pennsylvania

Explore the delicious menu at Alif Brew & Mini Mart in Philadelphia. Discover signature drinks, snacks & must-try items. Visit us at 4501 Baltimore Ave.

Alif Brew & Mini Mart Experience – Food & Drinks in Philadelphia

Learn about Alif Brew & Mini Mart, your go-to spot for delicious eats and drinks in Philadelphia. Located at 4501 Baltimore Ave, experience local flavors today.

About Alif Brew & Mini Mart, Philadelphia

Opening hours for Alif Brew & Mini Mart, Philadelphia. Find opening hours for Alif Brew & Mini Mart at 4501 Baltimore Ave on our website.

Alif Brew & Mini Mart – Ethiopian café and grocery in Philadelphia

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