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.“

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

“Food is delicious. They are also open until 11 on weeknights. Service is friendly, can be a little slow when they are busy, but the kitchen is fast. Nice hip vibe. Live music on weekends can be fun, but sometimes loud. It's our go to. Love it. A little bit of Ethiopia in arlington“

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

“I ordered a meat combo with some veggie dishes on the side. When I say I was impressed, that’s a serious understatement. This was easily some of the best food I’ve had in a very long time. It was spiced perfectly and I was able to taste the zing without burning my mouth off. The service was incredible: the workers kind, friendly, and provided a relaxed atmosphere that allowed me to feel at home. I honestly couldn’t ask for a better introduction to Ethiopian food.“

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

“The lamb and baklava were very good. I came here after a long day of travel just looking for a quick bite and was pleasantly surprised with this gem of a spot. The young ladies were very charming and friendly and the service was top notch. I will definitely remember this place for the next time I am in the area and will be sure to get an appetizer rather than a dessert before my meal next time, because portions were generous. Thank you again!“

“Go here please

The staff are spectacular, kind and efficient. The food is wonderful and the vibes are so good people would frequently pop in just to dance for a minute and leave.

The two of us shared the deluxe combo, got extra injera, and finished with a tiramisu. Overall everything came out perfect and the staff basically read our minds on bringing out more. Seriously it couldnt have been a more comforting meal.“

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

“Absolutely fantastic food, super delicious. Also vegan options, including the jaw-dropping veg special platter (it's vegan). Warm, homey service. Our meal got a little behind several other tables, lovely chef came out with apologies and treated us to a round of arrack ..delish.

Absolutely will return next time in the area!“

“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+“

“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 🤌“

“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.“

“it is amazing food and great service“

“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 🙏🏾“

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

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

“Their food is so delicious ♥️“

“I got the veggie sampler with four sides over injera for $18. Very filling and delicious. I purposely ordered non-spicy sides because I’m a wuss. Ater: yellow split peas in Turmeric and ginger Shiro: creamy chickpea puree Gomen: collard greens with onions and garlic Tikel gomen: cabbage, carrots, potato stew with onion, garlic, and ginger“

“This was my first time experiencing Ethiopian food, and I will never forget my first experience with Taff bread. As a southern gentleman, the guest service was a warm relief in the cold urban city scape of DC. I urge everyone reading this to eat Ethiopian and eat here.“

“very relaxing and cozy as a date night.“

“I had an amazing experience with Haymi Catering! The service was incredibly fast, and everything was perfectly organized. The food quality was exceptional—each dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Everyone at our event was raving about the food! Overall, it was an outstanding experience, and I highly recommend Haymi Catering for any event. Thank you for making everything so seamless and 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.“

“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!“

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

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

“great food and service nice spot“

“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!“

“We went to Ethiopic for anniversary celebration and boy was this meal Celebratory! What wonderful service, Hospitality, thoughtfulness, care, FOOD!! We were 4 people, tried the Ethiopian, coffee and tea... had a sampler with other dishes: Lamb, Beef Tibbs& Chicken... also the BEET SAlad.. what wonderful flavors.. the textures and spices sang from nose to lips and tongue.. some deep and bold others floral and delicate everything a symphony of flavor... out hostess took great care of us... made sure we had plates, space... and great food! Love this place“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“best ever!!“

“the food food, the taste taste, the service, the ambiance just impeccable, my God!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾“

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

“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!!“

“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.“

“Friendly staff and food is very good 👌“

“The shiro here is one of if not the best I have ever tried.The service is lovely and all of the staff members are friendly.They take care of their customers with high efforts and ask if you need anymore food or anything else.They refill your drink even if you didn't ask.They also have fantastic coffee here.And overall this restaurant Is a 5 star for me.“

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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 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.“

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

“Really great Ethiopian food. I got the Yawaze ribs and they were so delicious. Perfect level of spice and great injeera bread. My sister used to live in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and this food tasted just as good as the food I remember eating there!“