Ethiopian Restaurants near Arlington, VA

“Thanks to Tracye McQuirter of By Any Greens Necessary for recommending this Ethiopian Cafe to me. The sign on the store says Bethel Cafe. I ordered the Vegetarian Platter. THEE VERY BEST! Friendly staff and accommodating. I will be venturing out to Arlington, VA on occasion just to come here.“

“This is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the DMV. The food is very flavorful and the service is attentive. You can even see the chef cooking through the kitchen window. Injera from Ethiopia is available, and the kitfo is the specialty.“

“My first experience at Enjera, and my first experience with Ethiopian food. Highly recommend!“

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

“My friends who live nearby rave about this place. Maintaining a top rating on Yelp and Google, I had to go. A friend and I showed up around 1:30pm on a Friday for lunch. The owner greeted us and quickly took our orders.

The Deluxe Meat Combo generously fed two men. Every dish on the injera was tasty, but our favorites were the Shewa Doro Tibs, Shewa Alicha Wot, Shewa Doro Wot, and Shewa Bozena Shiro. The portions are generous that we had to ask for more injera.

The space is no-frills, but comes with a few small tables. Street parking is nearby.“

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

“We had an outstanding experience at this Ethiopian restaurant. The servers were so nice and eager to show us their culture and cuisine. The food was absolutely delicious and came out quickly. I really enjoyed the music as well, it made for a fun atmosphere. This will be our go-to spot for Ethiopian food from now on!“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“Great food! Home-cooked Habesha cuisine I literally have no complaints. They waited for us to get there, order AND eat, even once they were closed. But they still wanted to serve us as guests. exceptional service. i recommend the doro wot and misir wot. you’ll thank me later 🤌“

“it is amazing food and great service“

“Amazing food but most off all the Hospitality by owner Woiz Zene makes you feel like youre HOME Food is consistently great, just fyi takes time to come out as they stay busy but always delicios. Customer aevice A+ Food A+“

“very relaxing and cozy as a date night.“

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

“I came overseas on I was looking Ethiopian restaurant this pa up in then I see a good review and then I took my uber in take me there me and my family and then we ordered the best food that was vegetarian dish and beef tibs that was extremely delicious the place was clane especially bath room and coustemer service very polite and the owner is very nice I recommend to go there“

“Learned customs I was unaware of. Wonderful! Rahwa & Ella servers very helpful to a neophyte“

“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.“

“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 🙏🏾“

“A friend recommended this place for lunch while at work and they didn’t disappoint. I ordered the beef Tibs and it was delicious. The beef was so fresh and tender and the seasoning was to perfection. Now I am craving the kabobs for my next visit.“

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

“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.“

“This place is amazing! The food is delicious. We got several dishes and ate until we were all completely full. They roast their own coffee beans, and their coffee is so smooth. The service was perfect, they explained everything we had questions about and made recommendations. I can't wait to come back!“

“Their food is so delicious ♥️“

“My family has been coming to Meaza for 20+ years because of the excellent food and service. This latest visit was no exception. We always feel welcome and the staff is attentive without being intrusive. Our vegan family member particularly appreciates all the delicious choices available there and selected Meaza for their college graduation party. Guests who had never tried Ethiopian food before were delighted with the tasty dishes and appreciated the polite and helpful explanations from the staff.“

“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!“

“They made my special day unforgettable!! Thank you guys for the exceptional catering service! From the presentation to the taste, every detail exceeded our expectations. The variety of dishes offered were not only delicious but beautifully crafted. The staff was professional, attentive, and ensured that all our guests were well taken care of. Overall, a flawless experience that truly elevated our event. Highly recommend!“

“Enjoyed a great dinner at Beteseb Restaurant when we came into town for the funeral of a dear Ethiopian friend. The food was excellent and the owner/chef and her brother (who was our server) were very kind, helpful, and welcoming. I highly highly recommend this place, especially for their kitfo!“

“Delicious food and friendly staff! The atmosphere is chill and relaxing.“

“best ever!!“

“great food and service nice spot“

“Having grown up with the rich flavors of Ethiopian traditional food, I can confidently say that Mekelet Restaurant is one of the best places in the DMV area to experience and truly savour the authentic taste of Ethiopia. The dishes are prepared with care, bringing out the depth of flavours and cultural heritage that make Ethiopian cuisine so unique. Beyond the food, the warm and welcoming hospitality made the experience even more memorable. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wishes to enjoy genuine Ethiopian traditional dishes and a heartfelt atmosphere. Thank you, Mekelet, for such an outstanding experience. Feleke M,“

“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.“

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

“Today I ordered doro wot, alecha beef, veggie combo, special kitfo and special tibs. It was delicious! I drove from MD to pick up my order and it was on time and on point. Everyone in the restaurant was very welcoming and nice. I felt I was back home. I don’t know if it was the owner but he was so nice and offered me to help me carry my order to my car. They have a life time customer. First impression matters and I was not disappointed from the food to the customer service. Thank you!!“

“Recommended by a friend who we were staying in DC with. Ash, our host, was warm, welcoming, and very attentive. Food was magnificent. Definitely glad we spent some time there, and only regret is they don’t deliver to the UK!“

“Friendly staff and food is very good 👌“

“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.“

“An excellent place for having a good homemade breakfast with above and beyond expectation service. Ms. Meron along with other staffs are very helpful, courteous, and kind. Steadily, their cafe’s food is made with a very high quality ingredients….indeed delicious!“

“Delicious Ethiopian cuisine with excellent service!!“

“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.“

“Amazing food ! AMAZING SERVICE !!! Will be coming back 😍🤤“

“I received outstanding service from Tseday cafe and restaurant for my daughter and son’s graduation party on June 7, 2025.
They provided a full catering service with a variety of delicious dishes that were delivered on time, efficiently, and in generous portions. The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Everyone at the party was excited and truly enjoyed the meal. I’m so grateful for their professionalism and quality service. Highly recommended for any special occasion!!
Dawit B Zewdie and family“

“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.“

“So authentic and tasty. yummy and feels like herby spicy. thank you“

“its a very cozy business that gives you a very intimate and familiar feeling. the food is bomb and served fresh and hot. the service was very good. felt taken care of.

Kid-friendliness: not much alcohol sold here and the restaurant is brightly lit so it’s comfortable for children

Parking: street parking and a parking lot behind the building

Wheelchair accessibility: there are table seats that can be removed and replaced by wheel chairs and there are no stairs

Dietary restrictions: vegan, gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian.“

“This place was so delicious! The server was really great! We got the Lalibela Combinations Special with Ethiopian Style Spiced Hot Tea. 10/10 recommend and would definitely eat there again. 🤩😋😇🙌🏼 It felt like we ate in Ethiopia 🇪🇹 because of the atmosphere we were in. 😇“

“I now want to go to Ethiopia because I was introduced to this magnificent restaurant tonight by a friend i met from Ethiopia. I asked her where she goes to get food from her homeland. She referred me to this wonderful place.. So cool. Everything about this place is so spot on. I would recommend for everyone. Food was superb and so much fun to try new things. Go and check it out You will not disappointed.“

“Had the Awaze Tibes. Very succulent and tasty. Came with a side of corn meal I think it was and lots of Injera bread. Everything cooked to perfection. The owner and cook was very pleasant and accomodating. Hope to be back soon.“

“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.“