Tigi's Ethiopian Restaurant and Market

If you are looking for a good Ethiopian restaurant, please pass this. We tried Sambusa, number 28 and veggie combination

The service is terrible, they don't even offer or ask for water.

Laidback place, definitely come here if you have some time on your hands, the food is extremely delicious albeit the service a little slow. I can't really put them at fault considering how hard the staff work. Enjoyed doro tibs & doro wot & there's plenty of vegan options as well

Dietary restrictions: People with legume allergies might be concerned about the lack of selection but there's a few to order that're edelicious & allergy-free

Parking: In front of the restaurant, theres like an ample amount of spaces because its in a tucked-away strip mall

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Bottled Water, Injera, Doro TIBS, Doro Wot, Ethiopian Coffeee, Zilzil TIBS

Vegetarian options: So delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Kitfo

Authentic, very flavorful. The best Ethiopian food I've had in the area!

Vegetarian options: Great options

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Vegan

Good food with reasonable price.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

I'm not an adventurous guy but I love exploring new things. I know it is the greatest dichotomy of my life. One of the people I admired the most was Anthony Bourdain. He was a gifted storyteller. But what kept me glued to the tv when he was on was how he shared the humanity in all of us. He went to areas of this world where we were terrified of venturing into. And then we learn that these people that we fear are just like us. They are us. And I loved that about him. Instead of keeping people out, he brought them in and vice versa.
It was one of those episodes I watched on TV that had stayed with me. It was about Ethiopia with chef Marcus Samuelsson. After that episode, I immediately looked up Ethiopian restaurant in the area. Tigi's was the closest I found. I said to myself, I am going to try it out. That was more than 6 years ago. Life gets busy and you put things off. I couldn't believe that much time had passed. I saw something yesterday that reminded me-what I I said to myselfI back then. No excuses. I am not leaving this planet until I try this. And the timing was right because the wife asked me to pick up dinner. And of course I felt some trepidation about the unknown. I am willing but is she? So I did what every normal person does. I ordered Chinese as well as the Ethiopian. Always have a backup plan. I studied the menu and not knowing what to order, I order the meat combo 3 which covers a lot of their offering. The place was empty at 5pm with some carry outs. And I talked with the owner for a bit. Very friendly and personable. I looked around the market. Reminded me of the small tiny Korean grocery store you would find back in the old days. Forgive the ramblings of an old man but let's go on to the food.
Remember what I said about not being adventurous, and my wife even far less than I am. Well, the first thing I noticed was the scent in the car when I stepped in. It was not pleasant and I said oh no. I made a mistake. I drove home and that smell dissipated somewhat but I was still skeptical. When I got it in the house, there was no smell. I opened it up inside and I have to warn you, it is not for some people. The injera, which is a very very spongy textured type of bread is like nothing I have ever seen or felt before. I mean seriously, it looked exactly like the stomach lining of an animal. If you seen one, you know what I mean. So that aesthetic threw me off immediately. But damn it, I am going to give it a go. Wife was even more taken a back by the appearance. She asked what that was. I explained, as I had studied some videos before ordering. We broke the injera and used our hands as is customary and you know what? It was an incredible journey of flavor and texture. I loved the spices and everything about the meal. I am ordering everything dark next time because the darker items have the extra spices that I loved. And to my pleasant surprise, my wife loved it as much as I did. Yes, this is going in our regular rotation from now on. Keep your mind open to new people and things because you never know what you have been missing or needed.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Love the food experience for my first time trying the food

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Vegan Sampler Plate

Food was tasty but gave very small portion sizes for the price.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Injera, Doro Wot

We have been enjoying Ethiopian food in DC and Silver Spring for decades and were happy to find this place in northern Howard County. We stopped for a weekday lunch and had altogether a good, laid back experience, sampling several excellent vegan dishes with injera and chatting with the presumed owner. It’s not a fancy place but was good value. Highly recommend based on this first experience.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Vegan Sampler Plate, Injera

The food, vegetarian sambusa was amazing. Tigi's sauce was unique and added to the deliciousness. Very friendly staff. Keep it up!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Samosa

This place in my view is an undiscovered culinary treasure. I ordered the vegan platter - and the dishes were flavorful, satisfying and fresh, not weighed down with heavy, processed ingredients. The atmosphere was relaxed and not rushed. The highlights were items I would never have imagined I'd like but did. Like the appetizer sardine salad (amazing!), which was not fishy at all but light, with a lemon and mild spice, and infused with onions, tomatoes, small-diced peppers. The highlights were the vegan dishes (some spiced with berbere spice) and then the coffee, a whole experience of its own. The chef came out and showed us the coffee roasting, then returned with a big plate of coffee and an incense burner, part of a traditional coffee ceremony. The meal ranks as one of my favorites in the area, I love this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Had food catered recently from Tigi's for a gathering we had and the food was excellent.

Food: 5

They forgot we were there, we had to ask them if they had forgotten about us , the kitfo was very greasy and too raw the vegetables had no season plan like out of a can .

Vegetarian options: My wife only gets the vegetable dishes we normally like the food ,however I think it was the cook they have a different cook ,and they have different a host,they food just wasn't good thos time I didn't finish the food.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

Recommended dishes: Vegan Sampler Plate, Salad, Kitfo

I was driving toward West Virginia and craving Ethiopian food. I found Tigs, a small Ethiopian restaurant with good food and great service. It made me feel like I was back home. Keep up the great job!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Absolutely delicious food! Staff was very nice and accommodating. Btw you can buy the awaze sauce if you love it just as much as I did!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Vegan Sampler Plate, Injera, Vegan, Sauce, Doro TIBS, Doro Wot, Yebeg TIBS, Vegan Sambusa