Asmara

Asmara is an Eritrean restaurant in Central Square, Cambridge, open since 1986 and named for Eritrea’s capital. Meals follow the Eritrean custom of eating with the fingers, using injera, the traditional bread, to scoop up each dish. The kitchen makes two kinds of injera: one from equal parts rice and wheat flour, and one that is 95 percent teff, a grain rich in protein, calcium and fiber.

Diners can sit at traditional mesob tables, woven baskets with the shared platter set in the center, for a family-style experience. The menu covers spicy and mild dishes and suits vegetarians, vegans and meat eaters alike. Inside, the dining room is filled with Eritrean artifacts, traditional objects and paintings by an Eritrean artist depicting his visions of the country, which gained independence after a 30-year war in 1991.

What to Know

• Dine-in, takeout and delivery are offered, with delivery through Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash.
• Guests with wheat allergies should speak with the manager about their options.
• The restaurant sells its own homemade honey wine.