Asmara Caffee - London

Asmara has become a favorite spot for me and my old friends to gather for coffee and chat. The owner is a friendly man who always greets us with a big smile and now just asks if we want our regular order. I have started buying their bagged coffee to take home, which is organic, fair trade, and from their native Ethiopia. I highly recommend trying the fava beans samosas platter for lunch. "The usual" is always a good choice.

I decided to visit this restaurant based on a friend's suggestion. They offer excellent organic, fair trade African coffee that is roasted and brewed on-site, and you can also buy some to take home. The atmosphere is warm and comfortable, and the owner is friendly and welcoming. They offer a variety of items such as bagels, sandwiches, paninis, samosas, fava bean dishes, and delicious looking baked goods. I tried the bagels and a panini sandwich, both of which were delicious. I highly recommend this hidden gem on Dundas St. East.

The friendly owner serves a rich and flavorful coffee here that will make you want to come back again and again. And if you're a fan, the butter tarts come highly recommended with two thumbs up.

I’ve started visiting London on business and Asmara is a short walk away. Nice coffee and breakfast sandwich. Owner is super friendly which brightens my day.

After living internationally and travelling for many years around Canada, the US and Europe including cities such as New York, London, Paris, Vienna, Munich, Boston, Los Angeles and Miami only to name a few, I have to give the owner and chef Misgna in every meal he prepares, his coffee roasting skills with his beans imported from Ethiopia where his family originate and his delicious homemade dishes. Everything from his bagels to his vegetarian plate with fava beans, hummus, pita and/or loaf bread plate, to his egg and bacon on English muffin or his light jalapeno bagel toasted to perfection with delicious cream cheese, accompanied by an authentic espresso, macchiato, cappuccino or his freshly roasted drip coffee, is outstanding in presentation, quality and taste. Woody Allen – eat your heart out! I say this after travelling around many parts of the world. It is the quality of his beans that have an original and delicious flavor in every way, a treat he has introduced to us in this small to mid size café hidden and magical. Walking through the door, I am greeted by Misgna's graceful energy. He is kind and attentive to all who come in. If only billionaire business owners could provide us with true quality and humility like this! You will never get a half warm cup of coffee from this owner, only freshly brewed and he is spotless in every way. This is one of the cleanest restaurants I have ever been to world wide and in every corner of the many places I have lived and travelled to. It is like an escape to a café in Africa with an aroma of fresh coffee, quiet music from his country in the background, making me want to learn more about Ethiopian trends and beats. That is my first impression but to learn more about this culture has been such a gift. Misgna has created something special in Canada. I say this instead of London, Ontario because I have not found a place like this that is comparable in aura, energy, ownership, cleanliness, coffee and food quality in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal, let alone anywhere else! Perhaps I’m telling a little bit of a fib. There are a few, one in Vienna, Munich, Paris, New York, Los Angeles but here? Who could have imagined that there would be an inconspicuous door on Dundas Street that when opened, would lead you into the best restaurant in London for breakfast and lunch! Thank you Misgna, for bringing all that you have on offer to the Province of Ontario.