Ethiopian Restaurants near Lincolnia, VA

“I usually go to Time Ethiopian Cafe and Market to buy Ethiopian bread(injera), meat, and other miscellaneous items, and I’ve never actually sat down to eat there. But last week, I ordered tibs and a vegetarian combo, and the food was excellent. the flavors were great, and the portions and variety were better than most Ethiopian restaurants I’ve tried.

Today, I ordered fish cutlet with pasta, and once again, the taste was amazing and the portion was more than enough for one person. I really hope they keep the food quality this consistent.“

“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!!!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Our first time eating Ethiopian food, and we were blown away! The waitress was really nice and helpful when it came to recommending us what to try and for portion sizes (which are very generous by the way).
Food itself was nothing short of amazing, very good food, right level of spiciness (and we love spicy food). Lots of vegetarian options. We took the chicken and fish with the vegetarian combo and we highly recommend it. Tiramisu for dessert was also amazing!
This restaurant definitely deserves the good rating it has.“

“Some of the best Ethiopian food that I have had, and I am a Chef and have frequented many Ethiopian restaurants in DC as well.
I ordered the veggie combo and each dish was layered with the perfect amount of spice, heat and salt. The injera was light and fluffy with the familiar tang of a good fermentation. I also ordered a glass of Tej (honey wine) expecting a store bought bottle but was pleasantly surprised with a house made 6 month old wine that was slightly effervescent with a balanced sweetness that went perfectly with the food.
I told the server how great the food was and the Chef personally came out to thank me and talk to me about how she prepares the food and even answered questions I had about how to prepare there Shiro wot(which was excellent) and where to buy the spices for it. Both the Chef and the server were kind and treated me so warmly I felt like family.
If you are in the mood for authentic Ethiopian food, please give this place a try, I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised!“

“Rolled up to this restaurant with 9 folks from the west coast and asked for them to bring us the foods they like best (minus seafood). Oh boy was this a delicious meal. Honestly, I'm not from DC but this by far was the best Ethiopian food I've eaten. Everything was delicious and we all stuffed ourselves way too much. Thanks for the great meal!“

“The food was phenomenal. We tried the signature lamb and signature beef dishes. We didn’t have to wait long at all, maybe 10-15 minutes and the food was served. These options were recommended by Beza Y. Great choice, and she was kind and explained the dishes well. Would def come back.“

“Went in here because we saw the reviews and boy did it not disappoint. Owner asked us if we ordered ahead since it’s mostly takeout and then proceeded to make us some delicious tibs. He then sat with us and told us all about his restaurant and cooking journey. His passion was inspiring and the food was immaculate.“

“it is amazing food and great service“

“best ever!!“

“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.“

“great food and service nice spot“

“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.“

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

“I had a wonderful dinner at Moya Cafe and Kitchens .The food was delicious, fresh, and full of flavor. The service was friendly, and the atmosphere was welcoming. I really enjoyed my experience and would definitely come back again. Thank you for a great meal!“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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 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!!“

“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 .“

“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!“

“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!“

“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.“

“The best coffee in Washington, DC! The staff is professional, friendly, and provides excellent service. I always enjoy coming here—the atmosphere is welcoming, and the experience is consistently outstanding. I love this place and highly recommend it!“

“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!“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Delicious Ethiopian cuisine with excellent service!!“

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

“Selam Cafe is a great spot with delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere. The dishes were fresh, flavorful, and authentic, and the portions were generous. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Service was quick, the restaurant was clean, and the overall experience was excellent. I’ll definitely be coming back and would recommend Selam Cafe to anyone looking for a great meal.“

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

“Fantastic food. The crab rice was amazing!“

“1st Timer. I ordered the Mac n cheese and the 2pc chicken. Unfortunately we only were able to do take out but the food was good. The breast was juicy. A lot of times the meat is dried out but this meat was flavorful and juicy. I tried the naked but I’ll be back for some more Spice!“

“Authentic Ethiopian restaurant in Washington, DC. The food is very tasty. I’m really happy to have the opportunity to try a different culture’s cuisine without having to travel far. I’ve visited many times because my curiosity keeps bringing me back to explore more of their dishes. I love it every time.“