“I had Ethiopian cuisine on my bucket list for real long time, but since I couldn't find much time to visit any Ethiopian restaurant in New York city, I decided to go ahead with the one in Washington DC!Initially, I was a bit hesitant to order the meat dishes since my last adventure with African cuisine wasn't a great one. Glad that Ethiopians have a good amount of vegetables in their diet which helped me make a safe and easy choice to go with!I went ahead with their traditional veggie platter, which consisted of 2 vegetables, 2 lentil dishes and a salad served over Injera( basically the Ethiopian version of dosa: An Indian dish and a much softer one instead of crispy). The vegetables served were cluster beans along with cabbage and potato. The cluster beans felt right out of my home kitchen whereas the potato was undercooked in the cabbage one! The two lentil dishes served out of which one was the spicy one and the other not spicy. I loved both of them. Honestly, I never thought it would be so close to traditional Indian cuisine as a result I also let the server know the same.The server was pretty friendly and was happy to guide me through their menu while providing quick service. The restaurant though feels like a homely vibe with close seating and the ambiance being that of a family home.Overall, an amazing experience for me with interesting thing being it felt like having a home cooked meal rather than eating at a restaurant!“
“In a spot where space seems quite debated,And for tables, folks patiently waited,Though the meat was overdone,The service was second to none,And their quick, friendly charm, we celebrated.Though the crowd seemed to give them a test,The wait staff showed they were the best.With meals served with speed,Fulfilling every need,In the end, their efforts impressed.“
“Amazing food from start to finish, amazing portions, great tea, and Coffee. We read the reviews as we where looking for a place to eat breakfast. The owner is amazing, the food is phenomenal, my family and I all agreed. My kids never agree on food, we were all in a food coma.“
“The food here was incredible! The sambusas were so crispy. The lentil was my favorite. We also got the derek tibs and the veggie combo platter. It was delicious we somehow finished the entire plate. Injera was super good too. We also really enjoyed the house made honey wine. It was not too sweet and was really good.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie dishes and vegetarian combo platter“
“Some of the best Ethiopian food I've had! The owner is so sweet and took such great care of us. Highly recommend the samosas, lamb, veggie combo with injera. Finish the meal off with traditional Ethiopian coffee you'll be so happy and satisfied. 10/10 would recommend. I'll be coming back the next time I'm in the DC/Silver Spring area!“
“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!“
“The food and cocktails were amazing. We have been in the DMV for 4 years and it’s the best Ethiopian I have eaten here (out of about 20 restaurants). The servings were generous and the seasonings were spot on. Try The Builder cocktail for a nice twist on Honey Mead! My daughter found it on a top 100 restaurants in DC and we totally know why. Highly recommend!!“
“I live in the neighborhood and once in a while when I want to just have a super chill, super yummy, super special experience I rack my brain to think of where to go? So many options but I always come back here. Like a warm, wholesome spongy Injera with a comfy lounge and an outdoor area to just relax and be. ❤️“
“We had breakfast here on Sunday and were so glad we did! The foul was amazing! Made me feel like we were back in Addis. The owner was a gracious host and even made coffee ceremony for us. Will DEFINITELY come back next time we are in town!“
“I had an amazing time at Abuare. After my haircut at the lady clipper next door, I walked past their happy hour sign and gave them a try. They made this amazing sangria from scratch and just happened to have the beautiful pink tulips sitting by.“
“I had avoided this place, just 2 minutes walk from my house, for the longest time. First I thought it was a junkfood type coffee and sandwich place. Then when I realised it wasn't fully that, I still thought the name was totally dumb. I did know that I can't keep avoiding it forever, thus, a few months after my friendly neighbourhood convenience store owner heavily talked it up, I went. It is an Ethjiopian-owned spot that caters to the typical coffee shop crowd. They have a mix of normal fare, and some lowbrow version of fusion Ethiopian dishes. I had their altered variant of chechebsa. It wasn't bad as long as I didn't think of it as chechebsa. The place is tiny and quite cosy. I know I'll go back.“
“Mita Cafe is super cute! This small cafe offers both Ethiopian and Japanese eats, in addition to breakfast, sandwiches, pastries, coffee, smoothies, and juices. While in the area, we decided to try them out, and ordered: +a Strawberry with Mango smoothie - prepared with mangoes, strawberries, and bananas, made with either your choice of apple or guava juice; we opted for the latter +an order of Spicy Lentil Samboosas - they also have spicy chicken as a filling, too; these are larger than the usual sized sambusas; super crispy, but I thought the filling was way too spicy! +a Tokyo Sushi set - this came with 4 pieces of salmon nigiri, a tuna nigiri, a red snapper nigiri, a roll of salmon maki, and a roll of tuna avocado maki; I really enjoyed the salmon nigiri, and most likely will opt for requesting these only; wasn't really a fan of the maki rolls, as one that contained 'baked salmon' tasked like it was from a tin I'd love to try their paninis next time and get more of their salmon nigiri. I'd also like to try their drinks. Service was very friendly and kind! There are only about 4 tables inside, so most seem to get their orders to go, or there's a queue to get one of the tables. The place is definitely tight and cozy! Street parking is available in the area. +salmon nigiri +tasty smoothies +friendly service! +street parking available in the area“
“So so good! Food is always so fresh every time. I always usually get a veggie combo, fish dulet and Goden tibs. You can tell this place is great because its mostly always packed with Ethiopian people. Service is good, sometimes a little slow but nothing crazy. The owner is very delightful and always walks around to say hi to everyone. There is often incense burning which is nice but sometimes a little strong. I will always come back here!Dietary restrictions: I asked if they have gluten free injera for my aunt and she said yes and it comes from ethiopia (not made locally).“
“Absolutely incredible Ethiopian food with the kindest owners. We ordered the veggie platter and sambusas and it was delicious! Owners clearly care so much about their customers satisfaction and were willing to go above and beyond to make sure we had a great experience. We will absolutely be back - looking forward to Lidu’s becoming a regular date night spot!“
“I recently had the pleasure of dining at elfegne Ethiopian restaurant in d.c and it was a delightful experience. The cozy ambiance and friendly service set the stage for a memorable meal. The Ethiopian dishes were full of flavor and authenticity. I especially loved the injera and tibs – they were cooked to perfection. The staff was attentive and knowledgeable, adding to the overall wonderful dining experience. I highly recommend elfegne Ethiopian restaurant for anyone looking to enjoy delicious Ethiopian cuisine in D.C“
“Great food! Small, hidden gem off Columbia Pike. Almost couldn’t find it. My sons first time trying Ethiopian. He had the awaza tibs and I had vegetarian combo, but plenty to share! The lentils had some spice, loved them. Great, spongy injera. We will return!“
“Best drip coffee and beans on the strip. Especially good with yirgacheffe blend Family owned and friendly. The locally made sambusas are excellent.Not skilled at cortados, flat whites or other specialties; though. The baked goods could be better“
“This was my first time to an Ethiopian restaurant. Our server guides us through the menu, provided samples to set our palates and made excellent suggestions for the meal. The Yebeg Derek Tibs with lamb as protein was the star. Beef waa good but not as flavorful as the lamb.Teje (honey wine) was soda-level sweet. Enjoyable. Served in authentic glass. Loved that.“
“Great place for a date or friends night. Ethipoic is an excellent, slightly upscale place with delicious food, attentive servers who are happy to help customers who aren't familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, and a dining room that is both cozy and modern.For those who like to dine outdoors, they have a covered patio facing 4th Street.It's usually busy, but there's rarely a long wait. They also take reservations.If, like me, you hate ordering on your phone via a QR code, you can get a physical menu, but you have to ask.“
“This ethiopian restaurant food is phenomenal,beyond amazing ,delicious and tasty.I bought ethiopian food newyork and new jerseys.The food is trash.I drive four hour from Allentown Pennsylvania to go buy ethiopian food.Ain't disappointed one bit habesha market carry out and restaurant in Washington DC recommended by me.I wish they open branch in Allentown Pennsylvania“
“TLDR; I'm so fortunate I live nearby.Long story: Boyfriend and I stopped in for dinner, starving. We ordered the sambusa, veggie platter for 1, and meat platter for 1. The sambusa order came with two pieces. They were tasty, crispy, filled with potato, and came with a smoky chili sauce that was delicious and yet not too spicy.The platters were LOADED. They are not stingy with the amount they give you here. Everything was so flavorful. We ate until we needed to roll out of there and we still didn't finish half of everything.The owner also treats everyone like family.Pssssst to whomever needs to hear... This place deserves a Michelin star! ⭐“
“When I get the team was welcomed me with a big smile the dining was nice I love it .Vegetarian options: I tried the food called " Fish Gulash " and I must say it was an absolutely delightful culinary experience. The flavos was fantastic and it was truly a wonderful dish.I highly recomand you guys this place to try it ,you will love it .“
“Really good food and friendly service, both indoor and cute outdoor seating with umbrellas. Parking garage across the street, which is all you can ask for in Silver Spring. One entree is probably enough for two light eaters, especially if you also get an order of sambusas“
“Delicious food, good music playing in the background and prices are comparable. The whole restaurant only had one waitress plus the bartender. She was very friendly but had to wait a while for our drinks and refills.Vegetarian options: Lots of veggie options.“
“Great food and attentive service. Plenty of options for vegetarians across all courses. The noise level gets very high though with a full house. It is not surprising given the cozy ambience of the place but still irks. I will look for a mid-week reservation the next time around and avoid Fridays / weekends.“
“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.“
“I stumbled upon this place after checking out several vegan late night options within metro DC and this was one of the few places that was open. I had not had Ethiopian food in a while, so I was excited. I’m glad I went because I was not disappointed because the food was great and tasted fresh, Great size portions for the price and the Injera was amazing. I ordered the vegetarian combination with fried fish. The fish to me was fried just right, it was very well seasoned. I believe one of the veggie dishes was a smashed eggplant and it was definitely one of my favorite parts of the entire meal aside from the fish and the lentils. I ordered my food to go, but inside of the establishment it was clean and the restaurant gave off nice vibes, I would definitely come back for a date night, and or just for Ethiopian food with friends/family because the service was prompt as well. Definitely give them a try if you’re in the area, I can’t wait to go back and try the Doro Wat and Kitfo“
“No complaints from me :) Nice and new. Wheelchairs can get in through the back from M St. We were early for dinner, so the only ones when we got there, but it started getting busier while we were there. Wonderful service. They were friendly and explained the menu. The food was the best part: incredibly delicious variety, healthy, and filling. Lots of options eaten by picking up with injera bread. There are lots of different spices, and they made some dishes less spicy for someone in our group who couldn't eat spicy foods.Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchairs can get in through the back from M St.“
“An exceptionally delicious experience, and considering DC inflation, comfortably and generously priced. Entrees were delightful and incredibly flavorful, but what sealed the deal was the baklava, which I would get again and again - I thought I would pack some of it up, but I polished the plate instead.Exemplary, would recommend to anyone in the area.“
“We cannot thank enough our Ethiopian Uber driver who suggested Axum! Axum offers generous portions in a very family friendly, unpretentious ambience. The wait staff are wonderful and helpful in suggesting plates to those excited to explore Ethiopian cuisine. A must when in DC!“
“I want you to know how much I appreciate the excellent service you provided Today( August 1st,2019 night) when one of my best friend Tesfa brought me in the restaurant. Specially the owner of the restaurant AMY attention to detail, great communication skills made the experience even better than I expected. I won't hesitate to bring future friends to your restaurant and I recommend every one to visit this wonderful restaurant. Shimeles“
“Went here with vegan friends and we all had the vegetarian sampler. The food was absolutely scrumptious. The staff were gracious and lovely and the atmosphere was very pleasant with really nice music playing. I highly recommend this restaurant! We'll definitely be coming back!“