We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ali Lemma a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Ali , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I grew up with a deep love for cooking that started in my momma’s kitchen during my high school years. When I went off to college in 2010, I also got real into fitness (specifically CrossFit), so I really grew the passion more since I was focused on my diet and meal prepped on an extreme basis for myself. I told myself if I was to ever walk away from corporate, it would be to start a business in food or fitness. After 6 years in corporate America, I joined the “Great Resignation” in November 2021 to take that leap and chose food. Taking inspiration from my mother’s recipes and adding my own personal twist, I fittingly named the restaurant after my mother Rukia, “Ruki” for short. The result is the best of both worlds – traditional Ethiopian cuisine with a touch of modern flare.

Ruki’s Kitchen is the first of its kind in Atlanta. We serve Ethiopian cuisine in a casual, street food-like environment in the heart of East Atlanta Village. The restaurant currently operates in a food hall named “Qommunity” (formally known as “We Suki Suki”). Opened in May 2022, Ruki’s Kitchen quickly gained extreme popularity in the Atlanta food scene. The restaurant’s online presence has expanded exponentially with the Instagram page (@rukiskitchenatl) increasing to over 900+ followers in a matter of months and 45+ five-star reviews.

Growing up in East Atlanta and having roots in East Africa, it really feels full circle to have started Ruki’s Kitchen. I love cooking and I love my city. Bringing my East African roots to East Atlanta feels like a true dream to me and exactly where I need to be. This is just the beginning to something really special.

Ali , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I quit my high-profile, extremely lucrative banking career at JPMorgan Chase in November 2021 without a plan. I felt like I was walking away from something I spent the last 10+ (5 years in college and 6 years in the banking industry) working so hard on. I was in a role that I considered my “dream job” if I remained in the industry. However, reality really hit me after moving to Washington, DC in Summer 2021 and starting my new role at the firm (JPMorgan Chase).

6 months into the job, I quit, with no plan. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew what I didn’t want to do and that was to continue my career in corporate. Although I was extremely good at what I was doing, I wasn’t happy. I wanted to do something I loved and would make me happy. I resigned that winter and moved back to Atlanta with my mom. Going from living in a high-rise in DC, making 6-figures, to moving back home with my mom, with no job, felt like an extreme low point for me. I was ashamed to tell any of my friends and family I moved back since they just sent me off to DC that Summer for the job and I came back with no plan or nothing to show for. Over the next 6 months, I fell into a depression. I went through so many emotions, one major one being the regret of quitting the career I worked so hard for. I turned 30 during that time, which also wasn’t easy, because I always envisioned myself to be at a high place, somewhere exotic maybe, bringing in the new decade.

Ruki’s Kitchen is the first of its kind in Atlanta. We serve Ethiopian cuisine in a casual, street food-like environment in the heart of East Atlanta Village. Ethiopian food is one of the most popular African cuisines due to its wide variety of healthy and flavorful dishes. The cuisine can also be quite intimidating and unfamiliar since we eat with our hands using a pancake-like flatbread that is served with every dish called “injera”. Also, many Ethiopian restaurants offer a wide array of food items which can be quite overwhelming. I offer just a handful of dishes that I’ve mastered and serve in a casual environment to make it easier and have our customers enjoy in a more relaxed atmosphere.

At the moment, the restaurant is a one-man show. When you walk into the foodhall, I am the first counter that people see. You will immediately get hit by the smell of the traditional Ethiopian spices I am cooking with. I greet you at the counter, talk to you, take your order, and turn right around to my homestyle kitchen stove where I cook your order. Anyone who has ate here will tell you that you’re getting more than just a meal here. From the music, energy, communion, and vibe you catch from visiting Ruki’s Kitchen, it is truly something different. I even have folks who just come to hang out for hours when they’re in the area and will always with laughs and maybe even new friends.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Coming from a banking/lending background, the knowledge of funding a business has always been a strong suit of mine. I know the downsides of outside funding (i.e. loans, investors, etc.) and how detrimental they could be for a business. So for now, I try to avoid them at all costs possible. The business is completely self-funded and 100% owned by me. I do not imagine any outside funding for the near future.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Focus on your customer just as much as you focus on your product. Coming from a banking background in delivering an exceptional client experience, that is a major focus at Ruki’s Kitchen. I try to have a conversation with all my customers beyond just a greeting and taking your order. Many customers will come in for a quick order togo, but end up staying much longer just shooting the s**t and hanging out. Anyone who has ate here will tell you that you’re getting more than just a meal here. From the music, energy, communion, and vibe you catch from visiting Ruki’s Kitchen, it is truly something different.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rukiskitchen.com
• Instagram: @rukiskitchenatl
• Yelp: Ruki’s Kitchen