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!!!!“

“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!“

“The food was amazing here and the atmosphere was out of this world. As somebody who has grown up integrated into the Ethiopian culture this food was so authentic and traditional. Especially happy to see that they had traditional Ethiopian coffee and wine. You know the coffee will be good when they pull out that jebena, and from the looks of it, it looks like it was from the Gurage tribe. I went with my Work of Black and Brown indigenous queer and trans folk and I was treated with nothing but respect and care!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Are you tired of eating the same few cuisine all the time? Sushi and burger and the usual? Well, venture out and try Ethiopian food.

1. Reservation: recommended if you are coming on Friday or Saturday.

2. Food: very good
- Enjara: the bread made of teff. it is very unique and it was my first time trying it and I loved it
- collared green was good
- yellow split beans were excellent options for vegetarion dish
- red lentils were unique in seasoning.

3. Drinks
they have full bar, mixed drinks and beer and wine options are available.

4. Service: very nice and welcoming

5. Extra: they serve their Ethiopian drink Tej is an aded bonus, it is nothing like I know. Technically a honey-wine.

6. They have LIVE MUSIC!
call and check with them. Artists usually come on Saturdays. Cannot wait to check them out.

Highly recommend!!“

“We loved our first experience with Ethiopian cuisine! Instead of leaving us to decipher the menu, the owner (also the chef and our server) asked us what we liked, and she took care of us. We enjoyed a veggie platter and a meat platter, both excellent. 10 out of 10. Would recommend.“

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

“Stopped in today for lunch after driving by many times. Food was delicious and was cooked fresh to order. Quality was superb. I got the tibs and was blown away. Owner asked if i wanted it spicy and did not disappoint with the level. Injera was very on point as well. Be ready for leftovers, so much food I'll have lunch for tomorrow, and all for under 20 bucks. Can't wait to try something new next time.“

“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.“

“very relaxing and cozy as a date night.“

“I love this place! Me and my friend wanted to try Ethiopian food for the first time (not knowing anything about it), and this place made us love it. Really good food, really good environment, really good service. If you can’t handle spice, there are other options, but you’re missing out on some delicious stuff. Can’t recommend this place enough. Also, servers are really nice and informative.“

“I eat here every 2 weeks or so, I love their Beef and Lamb Tibs and sides. Always get carry out so can’t comment on eating in the restaurant. It’s delicious and always tastes fresh. Highly recommend the Lega tibs over the Derek tibs. Taking off one star because the meat does tend to be SUPER oily compared to some other places. I love the flavor so I keep coming back, I just wish it were slightly less oily.“

“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.“

“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!“

“My family and I had this restaurant cater my graduation party, and I truly can’t say enough good things about them. From the incredible food to the exceptional service, everything exceeded my expectations. Throughout the event, they were attentive and proactive, making sure the food stations stayed full and replacing items promptly as needed. The staff was polite, communicative, and always willing to help in any way possible. Their professionalism took so much stress off both me and my family, allowing us to fully relax and enjoy the celebration. At the end of the night, they handled all cleanup, washed and packed everything, and left the venue kitchen spotless. I’m beyond grateful for their outstanding service and would highly recommend them to anyone planning an event.“

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

“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.“

“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 .“

“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!!“

“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 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.“

“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!“

“great food and service nice spot“

“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.“

“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 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!“

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

“This restaurant has such a calm and peaceful atmosphere it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. Everything we tried exceeded our expectations. Highly recommended for anyone looking for great food in a soothing, enjoyable setting.“