When Elias Shawel used to drive taxis in San Francisco, his passengers always asked him where to find the best Ethiopian food. But nowhere in the city was making food as spicy as he liked it. 

“Seriously, it was not that good,” he said. 

So he took matters into his own hands. Today, Shawel and his wife Nani Tsegaye run two Ethiopian restaurants in the city: the Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen in the Tenderloin and the House of Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen in Mission Bay. Both are some of the best destinations in SF to get a hearty, nourishing meal for under $20.

Article continues below this ad

“It was his dream to open a restaurant, and it worked out really well because I have the financial background,” said Tsegaye, who used to be an accountant for hotels.

Food | SF bakery finds unusual solution to neighbors complaining about its long linesLocal | Hundreds of millionaires are trying to escape the USNational Parks | I tried living the park ranger fantasy and spent most of it picking up garbageTravel | The California town that rose and died in 2 years

Get SFGATE's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for The Daily newsletter here.

A pedestrian walks by the House of Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen in San Francisco on March 3, 2026.

Customers prepare to order at the House of Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen in San Francisco on March 3, 2026.

Owners Nani Tsegaye, left, and Elias Shawel stand with some of their dishes at the House of Tadu Ethiopian Kitchen in San Francisco on March 3, 2026.

When I met the couple at their Mission Bay restaurant on a recent Tuesday afternoon, Tsegaye effortlessly whirled around the kitchen preparing an order of special kitfo (rare ground beef sauteed with spices and butter and served with a side of salad and gomen, or collard greens) while Shawel, soft-spoken but warm with customers, took orders at the front. Both of them are talented cooks, but it’s Tsegaye’s accounting skills paired with Shawel’s entrepreneurial spirit that have made their businesses successful.

Article continues below this ad

Don't let Google decide who you trust.

Shawel grew up working for his family’s shoe business in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. He moved to SF in 2007 and met Tsegaye a few years later at a mutual friend’s baptism in San Jose. She’d lived in Georgia since she was 15 but was from the same city in Ethiopia as Shawel. The couple hit it off, and she moved to California. 

Then came Uber. The app rang the........

© SFGate