Exploring Piassa Restaurant & Mart in Atlanta: Your Guide to Ethiopian Food and Market Finds

If you’re in Atlanta, Georgia and curious about authentic Ethiopian cuisine and specialty groceries, Piassa Restaurant & Mart is the kind of place many locals look for: a spot where you can both eat a traditional meal and shop for hard-to-find ingredients in one visit.

Below is a practical guide to what you can typically expect from a combined Ethiopian restaurant and mart in Atlanta, how to get the most out of your visit, and how it fits into the city’s broader international food scene.

What Is Piassa Restaurant & Mart?

A place like Piassa Restaurant & Mart generally combines:

• A sit-down Ethiopian restaurant serving classic dishes
• A small grocery mart with Ethiopian and East African staples

For Atlantans, that means you can:

• Try Ethiopian food for the first time in a low-key environment
• Pick up ingredients like injera, berbere, and coffee beans
• Experience a corner of Atlanta’s international cuisine scene without leaving the city

These dual-purpose spots are especially useful if you live in metro Atlanta and want both a meal and a way to recreate flavors at home.

Where It Fits in Atlanta’s Food Scene

Atlanta has become known for its diverse immigrant-owned restaurants, especially along corridors like:

• Buford Highway
• Parts of Decatur and Clarkston
• Areas near Tucker and Chamblee

Piassa-style restaurant-marts fit right into this pattern. They tend to be:

• Casual and family-friendly
• Frequented by Ethiopian and East African communities as well as curious locals
• Focused on traditional cooking methods and imported ingredients

If you already enjoy other international cuisines in Atlanta—like Korean on Buford Highway or Indian along Church Street in Decatur—an Ethiopian restaurant and mart is a natural next stop.

What to Expect on the Restaurant Side

Most Ethiopian restaurants in Atlanta, including a place like Piassa Restaurant & Mart, follow a similar format.

Dining Style

Instead of separate plates, many dishes are served together on a large round tray lined with injera, a soft, slightly sour, spongy flatbread made from teff flour. You typically:

• Tear pieces of injera with your hand
• Scoop up stews and vegetables
• Share from a communal platter if dining with others

Utensils are often optional; eating with your hands is common and part of Ethiopian dining tradition. If you prefer, you can usually ask for a fork.

Common Dishes You’ll See

You can usually expect a menu that includes:

• Doro Wat – A slow-cooked chicken stew in a rich, spiced red sauce, often served with a hard-boiled egg
• Key Wat – Beef stew with a similar deep, spiced sauce
• Tibs – Sautéed meat (beef or lamb) with onions, peppers, and spices
• Kitfo – Minced beef seasoned with spiced butter and mitmita (often offered raw, rare, or cooked)
• Vegetarian/Vegan Platters – Lentils, split peas, collard greens, cabbage, and more, all served over injera

Many Atlantans find the vegetarian combo a good introduction because it lets you sample several dishes at once.

How Spicy Is It?

Spice levels can vary. Some dishes use berbere, a chili-based spice blend that can be moderately to very spicy. If you’re sensitive to heat, you can usually:

• Ask staff which dishes are mild
• Request a lighter spice level where possible
• Balance spicier items with milder sides like cabbage or lentils

What to Expect in the Mart Section

The mart portion of Piassa Restaurant & Mart is especially helpful if you:

• Cook at home
• Host gatherings
• Are looking for specific Ethiopian or East African products in Atlanta

Typical items you may find include:

• Injera – Sold in packs, useful for home meals or parties
• Teff flour – For baking or making your own injera
• Spices and blends:
  • Berbere (chili-based spice blend)
  • Mitmita (hotter spice blend)
  • Niter kibbeh (spiced clarified butter)
• Legumes and grains – Lentils, split peas, chickpeas, and more
• Coffee – Ethiopian coffee beans and sometimes traditional coffee sets
• Packaged foods – Oils, flours, sauces, and snacks common in Ethiopian and East African households

Because inventory can change, it’s smart to call ahead if you need something specific or are buying in bulk.

Sample Visit: Eat, Shop, and Explore

Here’s how Atlantans often make the most of a trip to an Ethiopian restaurant and mart:

1. Arrive hungry
   Start with a shared platter so everyone can taste a variety of dishes.

2. Ask questions
   Staff are usually used to first-time visitors. You can ask:

   • Which dish is best if I’ve never had Ethiopian food?
   • What do you recommend for someone who doesn’t eat meat?
   • Which spices should I buy to start cooking Ethiopian food at home?

3. Order coffee if available
   Ethiopian coffee is known for its aroma and rich flavor. Some places offer:

   • Fresh-brewed coffee by the cup
   • Traditional coffee ceremonies on certain days or for groups (when available)

4. Browse the mart after your meal
   With flavors fresh in your mind, it’s easier to decide:

   • Which lentils or spice blends to buy
   • Whether to pick up injera or teff flour for home

5. Plan your next stop
   A visit pairs well with exploring other international markets nearby, depending on the part of Atlanta you’re in (for example: Buford Highway for pan-Asian and Latin American groceries, or Decatur and Clarkston for a mix of African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian shops).

Helpful Tips for Atlanta Locals and Visitors

For First-Time Ethiopian Diners

• ✅ Share a platter: Combination platters give a broad sampling without over-ordering.
• ✅ Try a vegetarian combo: Many find it approachable and flavorful without being too heavy.
• ✅ Be open to eating with your hands: You can always request utensils, but using injera is part of the experience.

For People with Dietary Preferences

Ethiopian cuisine is often friendly to different dietary approaches:

• Vegetarian & Vegan: Many dishes use lentils, peas, and vegetables cooked in oil, not butter.
• Gluten concerns: Traditional injera is teff-based, but some places mix teff with wheat. If gluten is a concern, ask:
  • What grains are used in the injera?
  • Whether a 100% teff option is available

As with any restaurant, it’s important to speak directly with staff about ingredients and preparation if you have allergies or strict dietary needs.

Atmosphere and Service: What Atlanta Diners Typically Notice

Ethiopian restaurant-marts in Atlanta often share a few characteristics:

• Relaxed environment – Not overly formal, suitable for casual meals
• Community feel – You may hear Amharic or other Ethiopian languages spoken, and see regulars who come frequently
• Flexible seating – Good for:
  • Small groups and families
  • Friends meeting up before or after exploring other city neighborhoods

Some spots may also have:

• TVs showing Ethiopian channels or soccer matches
• Music at a low to moderate volume
• Occasional special events tied to Ethiopian holidays or community gatherings

When to Go and How to Plan Your Visit

Because hours and offerings can change, Atlantans typically do the following before visiting a place like Piassa Restaurant & Mart:

• Call ahead to:

  • Confirm restaurant and mart opening times
  • Ask if items like injera or teff flour are in stock
  • Check if larger groups need a reservation

• Ask about parking:

  • Many international plazas in metro Atlanta have shared surface lots
  • If you’re using MARTA, check which bus routes or stations are closest to the address you have

If you’re visiting Atlanta from out of town, incorporating an Ethiopian restaurant-mart into your itinerary can be a meaningful way to experience the city beyond the usual tourist stops.

Quick Reference: What You’ll Find at an Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart in Atlanta

How Atlantans Usually Use a Place Like Piassa Restaurant & Mart

People living in or visiting Atlanta often turn to a restaurant-mart like this for:

• Weeknight or weekend meals that feel different from standard American menus
• Cultural exploration—introducing friends or family to Ethiopian food
• Community shopping, especially for Ethiopian and East African households
• Hosting and events, using store-bought injera and spices to cook at home

If you’re looking for international cuisine in Atlanta that offers both a meal and a market experience, Piassa Restaurant & Mart fits that niche: a single stop where you can eat well, learn something new, and stock your pantry for future meals.