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.“

“I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! I brought guests with me to introduce them to Ethiopian culture and cuisine, and Meda truly exceeded my expectations. The food was incredibly authentic, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The service was exceptional as well. Hanna was very attentive, welcoming, and friendly throughout our visit, which made the experience even more enjoyable. I will definitely be coming back again! If you have guests and want to show them what authentic Ethiopian food tastes like, this is absolutely the right place to be!“

“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.“

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

“Incredible food, made me feel like I was back in Africa! Maybe the best Ethiopian food I’ve had in America! Excellent prices too! I recommend the quanta firfir which is a very rare find in Ethiopian restaurants here in the states.“

“Go. Now. If it’s closed, just wait outside til it opens and thank me later. I CANNOT recommend them higher. The food was absolutely phenomenal. Portion sizes that can feed 2-3 people. Ridiculously delicious food. Great prices… and most outstanding THE SERVICE! The lady running the place was quite simply one of the kindest sweetest souls you’ll ever meet, took care of us like we were part of the family and honestly was just incredible.“

“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!“

“We were greeted by the loveliest lady who gave us such warm, excellent service throughout. The stew and samosas were delicious! Would also recommend the mango juice. Loved the vibe — the lighting, incense, and artwork really make it a calm, homely environment.“

“Absolutely! Excellent food and continuous service.“

“Incredible! The food was great and so was the service. I have dietary restrictions that usually make ordering at a restaurant difficult, but a waitress there made the process so simple. I told her what I can’t eat and she made suggestions that were all delicious.“

“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.“

“This is an excellent restaurant that delivers on all fronts—delicious food, attentive service, and a clean, inviting environment. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, and the staff was friendly and professional. I would definitely recommend it.”“

“Wonderful lunch at Sebseb Ethiopian Restaurant! The vegetable platter with fish and beef was delicious, and the Ethiopian coffee was superb. Friendly staff, great service, and an authentic atmosphere. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Ethiopian cuisine and hospitality“

“We got the vegetarian platter 2 so we could try and little of everything, and it was all delicious! Our servers were also very kind and helpful. They accommodated our large group (9 people) last minute for happy hour.
I recommend you go during happy hour, as the platters are 50% off.“

“Amazing BBQ. Taking care of Ethiopian’s catering needs, one party at a time. Recommended for quality, flavor and amazing service. whether you are hosting a party for 10 or 100, you won’t be disappointed with the quality and service , from Haymi BBQ. Cheers“

“it is amazing food and great service“

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

“The food was absolutely delicious and tasted just like a home-cooked meal. We ordered the large catering package, and everything was packaged perfectly. Nothing leaked, even after the drive to our destination. We’ll definitely be ordering again. Thank you!“

“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.“

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

“very relaxing and cozy as a date night.“

“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.“

“Had a really good experience at Meaza. The food was fresh, flavorful, and tasted very authentic. The injera was soft and perfect. The atmosphere was welcoming and the staff were friendly too. Definitely one of the best Ethiopian spots I’ve tried in Virginia. I’ll be coming back again.“

“Their food is so delicious ♥️“

“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.“

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

“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!“

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

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

“I’ve loved coming in and seeing the staff make the fresh coffee on Sunday from the pot. Such a refreshing aroma. I like their espresso coffee with steam milk .“

“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!“

“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!!“

“We came for a weekday brunch. We ordered a breakfast sandwich and a spinach omelet. The delicious sandwich was on a beautiful grilled bagel, and the egg portion was generous as was the cheese. The omelet was stuffed full of saites spinach, mushrooms, sausage and cheese. It was served with homemade potatoes and toast. We finished the meal with a generous fruit cup that was also delicious. The only thing that would have made it better was eating on a real plate and not paper. However, the food is totally worth making this a regular stop!“

“Food: Had the fish gulash with kik alicha. Fanta orange drink. Buna after meal. The fish gulash was delicious and the portion size was adequate. The kik alicha was a watery, but tasty. The buna was on the weak side, but a piece of free ambasha covered for it.

Service: Excellent service. However, the tables are often dirty and need to be wiped down.

Atmosphere: nothing really bad, nor really good. However, this place has HVAC issues since the inside is really cold on cold days. They have 2-3 spaces heaters that barely keep up.“

“great food and service nice spot“

“Today i sat down with the owner and held discussion about successes and challenges...She is such a fascinating woman and entrepreneur. She redesigned the hall, bar are, and ceiling to meet its coziness and attractions...I proved that during my stay in there. I think we should encourage business with stronger women entrepreneurship!! Besides, she is 100% devoted to self cooking, customer service and hospitality to customers. She faces a challenge of overcoming business recovery post covid phases. Its evident!“

“An Authentic Gem You Can't Miss!
Tsedey Restaurant & Grocery is the real deal. From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed with warm hospitality and the incredible aroma of freshly prepared Ethiopian cuisine. The injera is perfectly fermented — soft, tangy, and absolutely authentic — and the tibs, misir, and doro wat are packed with bold, complex flavors that transport you straight to Addis Ababa.
What makes Tsedey truly special is the combination of a sit-down restaurant and a grocery section. After your meal, you can stock up on berbere, niter kibbeh, teff flour, and other hard-to-find Ethiopian ingredients to recreate the magic at home. The staff are incredibly friendly and always happy to offer recommendations or help you find what you need.
Portions are generous, prices are fair, and the community atmosphere makes every visit feel like dining with family. Whether you're new to Ethiopian food or a longtime fan, Tsedey delivers every single time. Easily one of the best spots in the area — I'll be back again and again!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“We had the awesome Chef Mekonnen and the Nazret team cater our ~50 person wedding. My wife and I couldn't be happier with how things turned out. They were able to provide full support from a wonderful setup through bar support and went the extra mile to help clean after they had packed up their gear. \n\nThis is a lovely spot and I'd recommend not only dropping by for a meal, but trusting them with ANY event you could throw.“

“Thank you for the delicious food, the wonderful hospitality and for your kindness.The servers were very polite, checked us out every 10 or so minutes and were professional in every manner!I'd definitely recommend the place to have a nice dinner and drinks.“

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

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

“Delicious Ethiopian cuisine with excellent service!!“

“Cute cafe with a cozy vibe, reasonable prices, and nice staff. The cappuccino was really good, and overall it felt like a great neighborhood spot to sit, work, or journal for a bit. The French toast was decent, but the atmosphere is what would bring me back.“

“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.“