A family's table, open to all
Awaze Cuisine has been sharing the bold, soulful flavors of Ethiopian and Eritrean cooking from Cary, NC since 2015 — a family-owned kitchen where every guest is welcomed like one of their own.
Awaze Cuisine | Our Story
The name behind the restaurant
Awazé — garlic, wine, and berbere ground into a bold red paste — is the flavor at the heart of Ethiopian cooking. Founder Azeb Mekonnen chose the name to say exactly what this restaurant is built on.
Azeb opens her kitchen
Azeb opened Awaze Cuisine on Maynard Road in Cary, NC in February 2015 — a hands-on family kitchen where the warmth guests feel from the moment they walk in is entirely her doing.
The food on the table
Everything lands on injera — tangy flatbread that's both plate and utensil — with boldly spiced stews like Kitfo Special and Awaze Tibs. Dishes run from mild to fiery, and you eat by hand, together.
A Triangle favorite since 2015
Cary Magazine has spotlighted Awaze for its contribution to veg-centric dining, and WRAL's "5 On Your Side" has featured the restaurant in its ratings segment — but what guests talk about most is feeling genuinely welcomed. First visits have a way of turning into standing traditions.
Come share a cup
Whole beans are roasted in-house, ground by hand, and brewed slowly in painted ceramic cups. It's the kind of ritual that makes you want to linger long after the meal ends.