Homepage

Habiba Boru Opens Ethiopian Restaurant Inspired by her Mom Habiba Boru opens Ethiopian restaurant inspired by her mom

Habibas Ethiopian Kitchen is open for business

By Meghan O'Brien

Reporter Meghan O’Brien:
Habiba Boru has wanted to own her own restaurant ever since she was a little girl. This past Sunday, those dreams came true. Habiba is the owner and executive chef of Habiba’s Ethiopian Kitchen, the first of its kind in Syracuse. She said her journey started with a passion and brought her where she is today.

Owner Habiba Boru:
When I was a seven-year-old, I used to you know, cook alongside my mother and watch her cook because that’s how she provided for us and kept a roof over our head. I used to just look up to my mom so much and I always told her, I want to do the same thing you’re doing when I grow up. So she said yeah I’ll teach you how to cook, and I stuck around and watched what she was doing and sometimes I’d tell her let me do and watch me instead of me watching you.

O’Brien:
Habiba grew up at the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya with her seven siblings. She moved to the U.S. when she was fourteen, quickly developing a hard work ethic. When Habiba’s not at her restaurant, she’s here, working at City Hall as Mayor Ben Walsh’s scheduler. How does she keep up with all of this? Well, she’ll tell you it’s a lot of hard work, but totally worth it.

Boru:
It’s a bit crazy. You know what I mean? But my mother did the same thing. And she never complained. And I don’t want to complain. I am grateful for what I have because there are a lot of people who are out there that don’t have what I have right now. And working and providing for my family is a big achievement for me. The fact that I have my own business that I’m just starting right now and able to go out and work and provide for my family means a lot.

O’Brien:
Habiba’s Ethiopian Kitchen near the corner of North Salina and East Division streets is as Habiba says, a place for community and laughter.

In Syracuse, NY, I’m Meghan O’Brien, NCC News.

By Meghan O’Brien SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Habiba Boru dreamed of opening a restaurant ever since she was a little kid.

She used to watch her mother cook meals for their family of 10 when they lived in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. Habiba and her family fled Ethiopia when she was four years old, but her family held onto their roots, including meals and recipes, while at the camp.

At seven years old, Habiba eagerly watched her mother cook and begged her to let her give it a try. “I used to just look up to my mom so much and I always told her, I want to do the same thing you’re doing when I grow up,” she said.

Habiba moved to the U.S. alone when she was 14 and quickly developed a hard work ethic. She currently keeps a busy schedule as the mother of five children, a wife, a restaurant owner, and Mayor Ben Walsh’s scheduler.

She said her roles in life are something to be thankful for. “My mother did the same thing, and she never complained. And I don’t want to complain. I am grateful for what I have because there are a lot of people who are out there that don’t have what I have right now,” Habiba said.

Habibas Ethiopian Kitchen serves a variety of traditional Ethiopian dishes from sambusa to beyaynetu. The restaurant is located at 656 North Salina St. and is open every day of the week, except Monday. As Habiba says, come in for a sense of community and lots of laughter.

Related Articles