Ethiopian Restaurants in Washington, DC

“The food is wonderful. We always eat here when we come up from Richmond, VA. The staff is great as well.“

“Excellent food and atmosphere. The bartenders were also super chill and make really creative drinks. Recommend the honey wine!“

“While my lamb, veggies, and lentils were just ok, the service was so outstanding it absolutely made up for it. The owner is phenomenal and really goes the extra mile to make sure your experience is top notch. Also had the best hot tea (I gotta figure out this spice mix) and honey wine of my life. Samosas were fire!“

“very tasty Ethiopian dishes and very good atmosphere also excellent services!!!!“

“Delicious food and drinks! Such a beautiful restaurant with amazing service and vibes. The power suddenly went out on the whole block when we were eating and the owners and staff handled the whole situation with such grace. They were swift and even came out to check on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Lovely spot for authentic and memorable food.“

“I recently visited Letena while on a visit to D.C. from Israel. Amazing food! Great option for those who keep kosher...just ask the super helpful staff about specific preparations. Loved their injera! I often find injera too sour for my personal tastes, but this injera was wonderful!“

“I haven’t tried the food yet but I just wanted to rate them on the atmosphere and pleasant energy when I walked in . It’s so hard to find great atmosphere restaurants nowadays but I know the food will be great 👍🏾 this will be one of my go to Ethiopian spots ! Great job on the customer service Amen 🙏🏾“

“We loved our first experience with Ethiopian cuisine! Instead of leaving us to decipher the menu, the owner (also the chef and our server) asked us what we liked, and she took care of us. We enjoyed a veggie platter and a meat platter, both excellent. 10 out of 10. Would recommend.“

“Got the meat combo for 2. Incredible value for about $30 before tax and tip and the best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had! Delicate meaty stews full of flavor without being too rich or salty. If more people knew about this place it’d probably be very crowded.“

“Elfegne Restaurant is truly one of the best in DC. Their authentic Ethiopian cuisine is outstanding, and the hospitality makes you feel right at home. The prices are very reasonable for the quality and experience you get. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking to enjoy delicious food and great service.“

“Great experience. Definitely recommend combo platters to test the waters. Excellent service.“

“The best Ethiopian food and fresh food made immediately when you order thanks ghion that make me love it“

“I went to the restaurant Monday night, even for a Monday night the place was packed. My wife and I ordered the special 1 and the special 3. The food was very delicious but the service was even extra ordinary! After our server realized my wife has a hearing problem, she tired to help us order by the few sign language she knows. She told my wife “Going out for dinner experience includes ordering food for yourself so I wanted you to part of it” which made my wife so emotional. By the end of our night we taught her some new sign languages which might help her for other customers. She was so friendly and patient even though the house was so packed. I’m so happy my wife had the experience she did. I didn’t know it met so much to my wife until I saw how happy her face was. I will definitely recommend it for people who have hard of hearing or family member. It will definitely make them happy they are part of the EXPERIENCE rather than sit there while other people order the food for them.“

“A wonderful, authentic Ethiopian restaurant/cafe with great service. I had the vegetarian platter and it was delicious. I was very touched because I accidentally left a small thing on the table and the owner had a customer rush after me to return it (I had already crossed the street and was halfway down the block). I’ll definitely eat here again and recommend it to anyone who likes delicious Ethiopian food.“

“I almost don't want to review it for fear of this hidden gem being overtaken by hype and becoming packed. However, it would be a disservice to not support the good people at Amen Cafe, so I will. This quaint, lowkey spot, tucked in the corner of Georgia Avenue and easy to walk by, is a MUST visit. The hospitality is unlike most cafes. They're attentive, kind, and make you feel secure in a home away from home feel. The Ethiopian coffee is some of the richest and boldest in the city, and if you want a huge wake up, get the ginger coffee. The fresh juice is refreshing and revitalizing, and always hits the spot. The pastries and sandwiches are solid as well, but by far if you're going to visit, get the Ful or Ful special, its a beautiful, rich spread that is my personal go to. I didn't even know I liked ful and now I'm hooked. I tried other cafes, no one in the city makes better ful than here. So yeah, I love my cafe, I hope it never leaves. Ameseghnalew“

“The food was good and approachable if a little spicy. We loved the short ribs.“

“Beds was an excellent host! She made sure I selected the perfect honey wine with my meal. The food was delicious and the vibe was so chill and inviting. Make sure you come to their happy hour Tuesday through Thursday from 5:00 to 6:30 for deals on select menu items! You won’t be disappointed!“

“The food and service was excellent. The server helped us out with ordering our food so we didn't over order. Her suggestions were spot on. At the end of the meal, coffee was freshly roasted and served piping hot
It was a wonderful treat after indulging in such delicious food.“

“For $40 you get a delicious 7-course vegetarian dinner for 2 with croaker and honey wine. The staff makes you feel at home and the owner is a wonderful host. Try it.“

“best ever!!“

“I was rooming round in DC and saw this restaurant so we decided to go dine in, the very welcoming server made eye contact and showed us our table gave menu, come back to take our order also suggested that I should try sautéed Lamb onions, tomatoes and potato wedges with Engera or freshly backed bread I took the suggestion order Lamb. While waiting for my food I turned to see dine areas the atmosphere was great, the Lamb was cooked Beautifully and the portion was large so I asked to go parcel, definitely I would suggest this restaurant and when I go back DC I would love to visit the restaurant again.“

“great food and service nice spot“

“The best, most authentic Ethiopian food in DC… pour up the homemade tej from the plastic soda bottle & taste the realness 🤤“

“I stopped in with friends before a event Sunday evening. The staff was warm and welcoming. I had the lentil sambusas and a peanut-infused coffee at the staff’s recommendation. The food was fast and delicious- the sambusas were warm and spicy, and the peanut coffee was delicious! In a kind gesture, the chef sent over a sampling of sushi to our table. Fresh and refreshing, the sushi was a nice complement to my sambusas and hot beverage. I’m not on this side of town often, but now I have a reason to come back.“

“Best Ethiopian Restaurante in Town! I recomendar this place“

“Marcus DC is a delicious dining establishment in a beautiful, brilliant setting. The open kitchen is inviting and is perfect for watching Executive Chef Anthony and his team perform their delicious edible works of art. Four of us dined at an early 5:15 PM dinner. From the Table Talk scallops to the Nourishers Faroe salmon and the roasted drum fish, everyone in our party expressed extreme delight and satisfaction with their meals. One downside on the menu was the NY strip steak. While it was cooked to perfection, the meat was tough and difficult to get through. A better cut of meat is a bone-in ribeye which provides a luscious flavor and texture. The A big downside is that the restaurant does not allow separate checks. And so, at the conclusion of our delicious upscale dinner, we were at the table with the calculators on our phones out trying figure out who ate what and how much it cost. There were two in our party who did not drink alcoholic beverages. We weren’t even allowed to separate out the alcohol. Nor did we want our non-drinking friends to pay for $100 in drinks. If we had known this in advance it might well have been a reason for choosing another restaurant. I don’t like mayhem around the check at the end of a wonderful dining experience. In the end, the server had to spend time running separate checks for our four different credit cards anyway. So, it would’ve been better to just let us order on separate checks from the beginning. Plus, the restaurant is in the Morrow Hotel. Persons on expense accounts, needing receipts are going to necessarily want separate checks. This seems like a big mistake that can be easily fixed with a policy change. Otherwise, it’s Chef Marcus Samuelson so what’s not to love overall.“

“You smell the coffee as you approach the café, and its aroma envelops you as you enter. Coffee lovers have unforgettable memories of this place; it's as if the café was brought from Ethiopia to Virginia. I will return here many times Insha Allah .“

“There are lots of Ethiopian options in DC (and we’ve tried more than a few), but this one is EXCEPTIONAL. We ordered the Deluxe vegan platter and every dish was fresh and ridiculously flavorful. We also got the #3 meat special and it was so juicy, tender, and delicious we had to order a second one. Save this one in your favorites. 🤤“

“The capuccino was amazing! We dont live around here so our usual coffee shops are like starbucks, etc. We tried this place because it was near our destination and it was amazing! It was what we call real coffee. The customer service was great, the workers were so sweet and gave us recommendations on what to order. Its a cute bookstore and meeting place with ethiopian food and coffee. Definitely recommend if you want some real coffee or something different than your usual starbucks.“

“Everytime I have visited Qategna, the service and atmosphere is always excellent. This is a great place for groups or even those looking for a more private experience. Also they have great happy hour prices for hookah and drinks if you're looking to save some money. There's also have plenty of parking available.“

“I had a good time at Doro Soul Restaurant:

Honestly, I would have rated everything 5/5 if it weren’t for the buttery taste in the chicken. I wish the chef offered an option to choose between oil or butter for the chicken marinade. The flavor was a bit too heavy for me and my husband. That said, I think it’s an acquired taste, so everyone should try it for themselves.“

“Very chill vibe. Me and my sisters went during the day on a Saturday and it was a great grown adult atmosphere. DJ came in the last hour we were there and that set it off even more. Glad we came when we did. Wasn’t a crowd and had plenty of room to sit and dance.“