Buna Kurs

Ethiopian Café ቡና ቁርስ

Ethiopian coffee and breakfast in Jackson Ward, the way it's done in Addis Ababa.

Open daily · 8am–6pm · Kitchen from 9am

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Why Buna Kurs

Buna means coffee.
Kurs means breakfast.

Together, they're the heart of an Ethiopian morning. Lily Fasil was born and raised in Addis Ababa, surrounded by the smell of her mother's coffee. She came to the U.S. in 2009, studied at VCU, and brought that morning home to Richmond. Her sister Aida named it.

“I want the place to smell like coffee beans, the traditional way my mom makes it.”

Lily Fasil, founder & owner

Our beans come from Yirgacheffe in southern Ethiopia, which is delicate, floral and bright. Carytown Coffee roasts them in small batches.

See what's cooking
Lily Fasil, founder of Buna Kurs, smiling in a black apron outside the café
A latte with a tulip of foam, held up in front of the woven-basket wall

Walk in

Come inside
with us.

  1. Ground at the bar

    The grinder sits right on the counter. Your beans get ground while you order.

  2. The season's board

    A letterboard of seasonal drinks, from cinnamon brown sugar lattes to honey cardamom golden milk.

  3. Jebena on the shelf

    Clay coffee pots, woven baskets and cloth in indigo and saffron line the shelves.

  4. Then, the light

    Big corner windows, sun across the floorboards and a cushioned window bench.

Three coffees

One jebena,
poured three times.

In the coffee ceremony, green beans are washed, roasted and brewed in front of you. Incense is lit and small snacks called bunakurs go around. The pot is poured three times, and each round has a name.

  1. አቦል Abol

    The first cup. The strongest pour: rich, bold, awakening.

  2. ቶና Tona

    The second cup. Gentler and smoother, the round for talking.

  3. በረካ Bereka

    The blessing. The final, most sacred cup.

When
Every other Saturday, 2pm
How long
About 2 hours
Group
Up to 15 guests
Led by
Lily or her sister Aida
Call to reserve a spot

The menu

The breakfast combo: fir fir, egg silsi and kinche on a white platter with rolled injera

Breakfast served from 9am

  • Breakfast combo

    16.5

    Egg silsi, kinche and fir fir, served with injera or bread.

    House favourite Vegan on request

  • Fu'ul V

    9.5

    Fava beans in a sautéed onion and tomato sauce, topped with raw onion, tomato and jalapeño, with fresh bread. Add scrambled egg +3.

  • Egg silsi

    9.5

    Scrambled eggs in tomato sauce with onion, served with bread.

  • Chechebsa

    9.5

    Homemade pita-style bread, torn and tossed in clarified butter or oil with berbere and a dash of honey. Vegan on request. Add scrambled egg +3.

  • Kinche

    8.5

    Bulgur cooked with yellow onion and oil or clarified butter, topped with jalapeño. Vegan on request.

  • Injera fir fir V

    14.5

    Soft fermented injera sautéed in a spicy, medium-hot tomato sauce.

Ertib, the Ethiopian potato sandwich, cut open beside a chickpea salad

Lunch

  • Awaze tibs

    21.5

    Bite-size beef marinated and cooked in awaze sauce with stir-fried onions and jalapeño, on a bed of injera with tomato salad.

    Chef's pick

  • Lala shiro V

    17.5

    Chickpea flour slowly stirred with onions and garlic, served on injera with tomato salad.

  • Ertib V

    10.5

    The Ethiopian potato sandwich: sautéed potatoes with tomato and onion, topped with jalapeño. Choice of side.

  • Veggie wrap

    11.5

    Chickpeas, tomato, lettuce, jalapeño, onion and vegan mayo. Choice of side.

  • House special salad V

    10.5

    Lettuce, tomato, jalapeño and red onion with house dressing.

A sambusa broken open to show its lentil filling

Starters

  • Sambusa V

    6

    A pair of Ethiopian-style phyllo pockets filled with lentils, onion and jalapeño.

  • Timatim fit fit V

    7.5

    Diced vine-ripened tomato, peppers, onion and shredded injera tossed in awaze and olive oil.

  • Anebabero V

    6.5

    Two layers of savoury Ethiopian bread spread with olive oil and berbere.

Sides 5 each

Coleslaw · House salad · Chickpea salad · Spicy tomato salad

Extra injera 2 · Gluten-free injera 3 · Extra bread 1

A bag of Buna Kurs Blend Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee beside a white clay jebena

Coffee 12oz / 16oz

  • Drip coffee

    2.5 / 3.25

  • Café au lait

    3.25 / 3.75

  • Americano

    3.25 / 3.75

  • Latte

    4.75 / 5.25

  • Cold brew

    3.75

  • Cappuccino 8oz

    3.75

  • Espresso 2oz

    3

  • Cortado 4oz

    3.5

    Ethiopian-style macchiato.

  • Traditional macchiato

    3.25

    Italian style.

Extra shot 1 · Flavoured syrup .75 · House special syrup 1 · Non-dairy milk 1

Seasonal specials on the board, like cinnamon brown sugar latte, honey cardamom golden milk latte and cayenne spiced cider.

An iced latte in a clear cup with spice dusted on top

Tea 12oz / 16oz

  • Shai bekimem

    3 / 3.5

    Black tea with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.

  • Keshir

    3 / 3.5

    Ginger, orange juice and honey.

  • Tosign

    3 / 3.5

    Thyme tea.

  • London fog

    3.5 / 4

    Earl grey, steamed milk and vanilla.

  • Earl grey

    2.5 / 3

  • Green or black tea

    2 / 2.5

Smoothies 6 each

Mango · Strawberry banana · Peach, pear & apricot · Forbidden fruit (guava + passion fruit)

A brownie on a small white plate beside a latte

Fresh baked goods

  • Baklava V

    6

    Flaky layers, nuts and honey.

  • Tiramisu

    5

  • Napoleon cake

    5

  • Fruit tart

    5

  • Cream puffs

    3 for 6

V vegan. Ask us about allergies. Prices may change.

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The event space

There's more
past the counter.

Behind the café is a second room with white walls, old exposed brick, a long mirror and paintings of Ethiopian life. Book it for birthdays, showers, talks, jazz nights, yoga or a private coffee tasting.

  • 50theater or cocktail
  • 25–30seated dinner
  • 15yoga & dance

Includes tables, chairs and a sound system. Events end by 9pm, and bookings after 6pm add $50 an hour. You can bring outside food for $5 per person.

Large framed paintings of Ethiopian scenes leaning against a white wall in the event space
White-linen tables and folding chairs in the event space, with a portrait painting on the wall
Call about your event

A morning at Buna Kurs

  • Sunlit corner with small wooden tables, rush-seat chairs and a cushioned window bench
  • Fu'ul with scrambled eggs, garnished with tomato, onion and jalapeño, with a basket of bread
  • The long dining room under a woven pendant lamp, with the bar at the far end
  • Injera fir fir topped with tomato and green pepper
  • A short glass of espresso with golden crema
  • The coffee bar with white subway tile, wooden shelves and amber glass pendant lights
  • An iced latte held up in front of the bar

Visit us

Ethiopian tradition,
Richmond hospitality.

Find us

402½ N 2nd Street
Suite A, Jackson Ward
Richmond, VA 23219
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Hours

Sunday – Saturday
8am – 6pm
Kitchen
from 9am

Open 7 days a week.

Say hello

(804) 277-9411
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Call Order online