Barcote

The story

Barcote: Michelin-Recommended Ethiopian Restaurant in Oakland, CA

Barcote

Mulu Reda grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, learning to cook from her mother and aunts. She watched them prepare traditional dishes and eventually mastered the art of making enjera herself. After moving to the Bay Area in 1996, she became active in the local Ethiopian community, cooking for her church and organizing fundraisers. That passion for feeding people led her to open Barcote on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland—a place that has since become a neighborhood fixture.

The restaurant’s atmosphere is warm and unfussy. A cozy dining room and a charming back patio make it easy to settle in for a meal shared with friends. The menu is built around the bold, spiced flavors of Ethiopian cuisine, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques. Dishes arrive on a large platter of spongy, tangy enjera, ready to be torn and used to scoop up stews and vegetables.

Standouts include the Doro Wot, spicy chicken simmered in berbere sauce with a hard-boiled egg; the Beg Wot, tender lamb in the same deeply flavored sauce; and the vegetarian combo, which offers Misir Wot (lentils), Gomen (collard greens), Atakilt (cabbage and potatoes), Azifa (lentil salad), and Buticha (chickpea puree). For those who want to try everything, the Meat & Veggie Ultimate Combo brings together both meat and vegetable dishes. The house-made honey wine and Ethiopian coffee complete the experience.

Barcote’s consistent quality and welcoming spirit have earned it a Michelin Recommended designation for 2026—a recognition that reflects the careful, home-style cooking that Mulu learned growing up in Ethiopia. It’s an honest restaurant, one that lets the food speak for itself.