Mrs. Atsade Desta

Café Lalibela Ethiopian Cuisine was founded in 1996 at 19th Ave and Dunlap in Phoenix — a labor of love created by nine close friends and family members — and moved to Tempe in 1997, where it remains a beloved local establishment.

At the heart of the story is Ms. Atsade Desta, an Ethiopian immigrant and dedicated mother of four. From the beginning she was responsible for the cooking and preparation of all spices — a vital aspect of Ethiopian cuisine — often working long hours for her children and her customers. Her guiding principle: “You can never cook and feed a stranger if you are not willing to feed them as if they were your own children.”

As other founders pursued careers, Atsade focused on growing Café Lalibela. It is the first Ethiopian / African restaurant in Arizona; in 2014 it partnered with mainstream markets, and in 2019 a Whole Foods Market tasting led to an invitation to expand into California, Nevada and Hawaii. It has been named “Best Ethiopian Eatery” by Phoenix New Times, praised by AZ Central and Phoenix Magazine, and honored with a 2024 Double Gold Medal at the Devour Culinary Classic.