SELAM ETHIOPIAN & ERITREAN CUISINE

SELAM ETHIOPIAN & ERITREAN CUISINE grades a B — 86/100 — a solid-but-not-spotless result at its latest Orange County inspection on January 28, 2026.

By health score it ranks safer than 32% of Orange County restaurants we grade. Its last report logged 1 high-priority and 2 intermediate violations. Diners give it 4.8 across 2,019 reviews. Menus here flag vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and other dietary options.

B · 86/100 · safer than 32% of Orange County restaurants we grade

Get directions Call (407) 778-3119

Restaurant details

Health grade
B (86/100)
Violations
3 total — 1 high-priority, 2 intermediate
Address
5494 CENTRAL FLORIDA PKWY, Orlando, FL
Cuisine
Other
Categories
Ethiopian restaurant, Eritrean restaurant
Price
$20–30
Rating
4.8 stars (2019 reviews)
Seats
76
Phone
(407) 778-3119
Website
Official website
Photo of SELAM ETHIOPIAN & ERITREAN CUISINE
Photo: Selam Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine

Community Rating

Reviews via Google
4.8 Community-sourced rating 2,019 reviews
Read all reviews on Google →

What diners say — our read

The recurring subject in this corpus is front-of-house, not the food in general. The staff tends to be raised approvingly here, averaging 5.0 stars.

More reviewers landed on 5 stars than any other score — 21 of 22. 22 of 22 rated reviews are four stars or higher; 0 are two or lower. What nobody raises here is tidiness — it goes unmentioned across all 22 reviews.

The kitchen graded a B (86/100) on 1 high-priority and 2 intermediate violations at its last inspection, which is roughly where the reviews sit too. That result dates from January 28, 2026. That puts it ahead of 32% of graded kitchens in Orange County. What the inspector actually wrote up: handwashing and handwash sinks accessible.

With both signals pointing the same way, there is little to argue about on this listing. The reviews themselves follow, unedited and newest first.

Our own analysis of 22 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →

  • June 29, 2026

    My first time trying Ethiopian cuisine and I’m definitely coming back! I ordered the veggie combination and lentil samosa and every last bite exploded with amazing flavors!

  • June 29, 2026

    Great food and atmosphere. Owner was extremely kind, courteous, and went the extra mile for his customers.

  • June 28, 2026

    Absolutely delicious food, beautiful setting, welcoming atmosphere, and reasonably priced.

  • June 26, 2026

    Amazing service and food. They realized they put a group tip and that I had tipped on top, they resolved it. Highly recommended

  • June 26, 2026

    We love Ethipian food and have tried many places. Food here pretty good. Solid. Serving size is not great. Typically we’d leave full after a veggie platter in Ethiopian spots in DC, for less. $50 for 2, and extra for adequate injera, servings should have been a bit larger, in my opinion.

  • June 24, 2026

    The service and food are immaculate! Love this place

  • June 23, 2026

    Amazing atmosphere, and owner was fun and nice. The meat was also seasoned and roasted perfectly.

  • June 22, 2026

    Never had Ethiopian food before. Our waiter, Abraham was the perfect host, and very helpful, and funny. We had Coffee with the appetizer (Samosa) and then the Selam veggie special. Hey, if you can eat ribs or chicken with your fingers, this was just as good, wrapping food up in really cool spongy bread. We capped it off with tea. The coffee and tea spices were outstanding. The food had tasty spices and was incredible. The mushroom dish was my favorite. If I am going back to Orlando, I will be making Selam a goto place.

  • June 22, 2026

    Excellent quality dishes! If you are a fan of zesty flavors, you will love the lamb tibia. Chuni and Abraham are very friendly and family like. Thank you for a delicious dinner :)

  • June 21, 2026

    My wife and I ate here for dinner. It was the first time we have eaten at an Ethiopian restaurant. The food was phenomenal and the service was excellent. Next time we return to Orlando we will be eating here again.

  • June 19, 2026

    Great customer service. Amazing food 😋, great atmosphere 👌

  • June 14, 2026

    This is a must stop while in Orlando! The service was spectacular and the food is to die for. The server took his time explaining every dish and was very happy to serve. We have been to several Ethiopian restaurants in Minnesota and Colorado and this one was the best! Will come back for sure!

  • June 12, 2026

    Excellent in every way! So thankful and glad we tried this place. The service is great, the food is extremely tasty, and the ambiance is very authentic. I definitely recommend! 🌸

  • June 8, 2026

    The food was absolutely delicious! If I was local I'd be there all the time!

  • June 7, 2026

    I’ve had a lot of Ethiopian food, and this is really great stuff! I highly recommend! Everyone will find something they like. You feel healthy and nourished afterwards too!

  • June 6, 2026

    Good Ethiopian food. Great service. Thank you Fekare.

  • June 6, 2026

    We're tourists here and wanted to try a local spot. I stumbled across a recommendation for this one and I'm so glad that we went! Both the good and service were perfect. We were looking for a smaller lunch so we split the sampler appetizer and each got a mango drink. Everything was great but I strongly recommend the lentil samosas and mango drink to anyone. Some of the best food I've ever had. We were both full and happy as we left.

  • June 3, 2026

    one of the best meals i've had recently. the owner and staff overall were super friendly and wonderful. we were sitting at the table and already planning our next visit. we got the meat and vegetable platter and it was amazing. when a restaurant has good vegetarian food, it's a good sign. and the vegetarian food on the platter was exceptional. the coffee service also amazing, it was one of the highlights.

  • June 3, 2026

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I visited this restaurant by myself and had an amazing experience. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with genuine hospitality and made to feel comfortable. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully prepared. Every bite reflected the authenticity and care that goes into Ethiopian cuisine. The staff was friendly, attentive, and happy to explain the menu, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere was warm, relaxing, and perfect for dining alone. I never felt rushed and was able to fully enjoy the meal. If you’re looking for authentic Ethiopian food and excellent service, I highly recommend this restaurant. I’ll definitely be coming back the next time I’m in the area.

  • May 31, 2026

    The food was excellent and so was the service!

  • May 28, 2026

    Food was good quality and excellent in taste. Loved our first time and we will be back again soon!

  • May 25, 2026

    We live in Tampa, but whenever we visit Orlando, Selam Cuisine is always on our list. It’s my wife’s all-time favorite! We had a wonderful family dinner there. The food was incredibly authentic — the best Ethiopian dishes we’ve tasted. The injera was perfect, and the stews were rich and flavorful. Naomi, our daughter, loved it too. Our favorite was the “Cornis” an amazing meat combo that’s a true meat lover’s dream. So tender, well-seasoned, and packed with flavor! The ambiance is warm and welcoming, like a cozy home. The staff were friendly, loving, and made us feel like family. Prices are very reasonable for the quality. Highly recommend!

Overall Score

70 / 100

  • Health inspection grade 30/40
    Grade B
  • Dietary transparency 17/20
    5 options listed
  • Community rating 19/20
    4.8★ average
  • Hidden-gem status 0/10
    Not flagged
  • Track record 4/10
    Stable, 0% clean

Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.

Opening hours

Monday
12 to 9 PM
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
12 to 9 PM
Thursday
12 to 9 PM
Friday
12 to 10 PM
Saturday
12 to 10 PM
Sunday
12 to 10 PM

Inspection history

The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.

  1. January 28, 2026 · Routine - Food

    Inspection Completed - No Further Action

    1 high-priority · 2 intermediate · 0 basic

    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided (×2)
  2. October 6, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended

    3 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 0 basic

    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 09 — Bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
  3. September 11, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Call Back - Extension given, pending

    3 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 0 basic

    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 09 — Bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
  4. September 3, 2025 · Routine - Food

    Warning Issued

    3 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 0 basic

    • 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
    • 09 — Bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food
    • 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
    • 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized

Safer options nearby

Higher-graded restaurants close to SELAM ETHIOPIAN & ERITREAN CUISINE, by Florida DBPR grade:

This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →

Data last updated: January 28, 2026