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Injera from Ethiopian Teff.
Diners dig in to a platter at Dukem.
Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images

15 Essential Ethiopian Restaurants Around D.C.

Where to feast on spicy stews, lentils, and spongy injera

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Diners dig in to a platter at Dukem.
| Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Ethiopian food is an integral part of D.C.’s restaurant scene. Refugees who fled their war-ravaged African nation in the 1970s and ’80s settled in the District and kept their culinary traditions alive. Initially rooted around Little Ethiopia at the intersection of Ninth and U Streets NW, the Ethiopian community continues to spread out to parts of Northern Virginia and Maryland. Silver Spring hosts the D.C. area’s biggest Ethiopian cultural festival once a year.

D.C.’s iconic Ethiopian mainstays like Zenebech, Beteseb, and Dukem continue to set the standard with classic dishes like beef tibs, doro wot, and soft, stretchy, sour injera. Standout Chercher is in the midst of an expansion, with current locations in Northwest D.C. and in Bethesda. Adams Morgan’s much-loved Meskerem set the standard until its 2015 closing, but for the most part, options for Ethiopian food have only grown and improved with time.

Park View’s Heat Da Spot and Falls Church’s Nazret are new additions to this map. Shaw will soon get a pair of exciting new Ethiopian options. A new family-owned Ethiopian venture called Broz Dynasty will soon open in the space formerly occupied by Cortez, and acclaimed chef Elias Taddesse (Mélange) will soon remix American soul food with Ethiopian flavors from a new fried chicken carryout.

Here is where to go for the best ayib, sambusas, coffee ceremonies, and kitfo in the DMV.

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Beteseb Restaurant

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Silver Spring has no shortage of good Ethiopian food, but Beteseb distinguishes itself with food bursting with flavor and spice. The injera is made entirely from teff grain, unlike many American-adapted injera that incorporate wheat flour. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday to Sunday. Try the breakfast firfir combo (scrambled eggs, seasoned cracked wheat, spiced bread) or buttery bula porridge.

An injera platter at Beteseb Restaurant.
Beteseb [official]

This Hyattsville restaurant’s recipes have been handed down for generations, so don’t expect any fusion or trend-setting dishes. The menu features Ethiopian standards, including split pea-centric shiro, chili-fueled awaze beef, and a boiled egg-topped chicken stew known as doro alicha. It’s open for delivery and takeout.

Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant And Bar

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A relative newcomer to D.C.’s Ethiopian restaurant scene, Tsehay has already earned a reputation for fresh and deeply flavorful cuisine rooted in Ethiopian home cooking. Co-owner Salem Gossa and her sister Sara make 100-percent teff injera daily. Their mother’s love and recipes inspire the select menu. The vegan combination platter lets customers sample six dishes at once, and the tibs are not to be missed.

A vegetable platter at Tsehay.
A vegetable platter at Tsehay.
Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Heat Da Spot Café

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This Georgia Avenue NW gem is an Ethiopian-influenced answer to “what’s for breakfast?” Along with reasonably priced American diner fare, espresso drinks, and sandwiches, Heat Da Spot serves a variety of Ethiopian breakfast options that keeps regulars coming back. Bored with your breakfast burrito? Order mashed fava beans and home fries wrapped in injera. Try the ful with scrambled eggs, the chechebsa, and the kinche (porridge), firfir, and eggs. Sit on the uniquely upholstered furniture and grab a few extra containers of its homemade specialty sauce. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

Zenebech

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This celebrated, decades-old Shaw institution relocated to Adams Morgan in 2017, but fire damage caused an extensive delay in opening. Thankfully, Zenebech reopened in August 2018 with its best-selling lamb tibs, curry goat, and marinated ground beef known as kitfo. Call in takeout orders.

A colorful combo platter at Zenebech.
Zenebech [official]

Dukem (Multiple locations)

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This one-time carryout spot has evolved into a full-service restaurant, with a second location in Baltimore. Fans know to order the vegetable-filled sambusa pastries, chile-spiked fava beans (a breakfast favorite), and zesty doro wat chicken stew. The entire menu pairs perfectly with a cold glass of mango juice. Most evenings, Dukem maintains a late-night club vibe with live Ethiopian music and a full bar.

Keren Cafe & Restaurant

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Keren Café is technically Eritrean, but the Adams-Morgan mainstay serves a wide menu of well-made crossover cuisine. Order a ful dish at breakfast, and don’t miss the cinnamon-infused house tea. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for takeout and delivery.

Habesha

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This combination carry-out, restaurant, and market is open all day and evening, but it’s a mainstay for breakfast. Visitors kickstart their mornings with ful, featuring mashed fava beans alternately heated and cooled by jalapenos and yogurt, as well as kinche, a savory bowl composed of cracked wheat and spiced butter.

Sizzling eats from Shaw’s to-go stalwart Habesha.
Habesha [official]

Chercher (Multiple Locations)

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This decade-old Shaw staple earns widespread praise from locals and celebrity chefs alike (Top Chef judge Kwame Onwuachi always makes a point to visit when he’s back in town). Named after the West Hararghe zone in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, Chercher serves sauteed short ribs, fried tilapia, and ginger-spiked lamb stew complemented by tej, a regional honey wine. Sit and stay in its charming dining room or order online here. An additional area location sits in Bethesda.

This bright, white-tablecloth restaurant on M Street NW serves traditional Ethiopian fare like lentils, collard greens, and beef tibs, as well as several new takes on old favorites. The front patio tables make for excellent people watching along Georgetown’s main drag. Das also offers takeout and delivery.

The elegant dining room at Das.
Das

Ethiopic

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This designed-for-date night restaurant on H Street NE continues to impress with its classic take on sizzling lamb, fried fish, and vegetarian dishes such as simmered green beans and curried potatoes. Be sure to note decor inspired by the ancient Ge’ez liturgical script. Check out the menu of “Ready to Cook” meal kits, and the Ethiopian beer sampler to go.

Meaza is a hive of activity, serving as sit-down restaurant, market, and event space. The Falls Church watering hole offers Ethiopian coffee service and tangy injera baked fresh throughout the day.

A sizable combo platter at Meaza.
Meaza

Nazret Ethiopian Restaurant

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In a city renowned for the quality and variety of its Ethiopian food, Nazret takes Ethiopian staples to the next level in its cozy Falls Church digs. Try the “Nova Combo” —  derk tibs, beef jerky-like stew (quanta firfir), kitfo, and ayib — for $36.99 and don’t miss its Sheba Tej honey wine. Call ahead for the tirre sega: strips of raw beef traditionally served with a fiery spice blend and a mustard sauce.

Family-run Enat — the name actually means “mother” in Ethiopian — boasts all sorts of meat dishes, including tibs flanked with onion and peppers, spiced lamb tripe, and tartare-like kitfo bolstered by herb butter.

Meats steal the show at Enat.
Enat

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant

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Warm hospitality and generous portions of dishes using local ingredients characterize this tucked-away Old Town darling. Chef Hanan Mosa’s mother taught her to cook at age 12 and remains an inspiration. The awaze beef tibs, doro wat, and vegan sampler are must-tries. The family-run operation makes its injera fresh with 100-percent teff.

Old Town is home to Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant.
Kelly Loss/Open Kitchen DC

Beteseb Restaurant

Silver Spring has no shortage of good Ethiopian food, but Beteseb distinguishes itself with food bursting with flavor and spice. The injera is made entirely from teff grain, unlike many American-adapted injera that incorporate wheat flour. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday to Sunday. Try the breakfast firfir combo (scrambled eggs, seasoned cracked wheat, spiced bread) or buttery bula porridge.

An injera platter at Beteseb Restaurant.
Beteseb [official]

Shagga

This Hyattsville restaurant’s recipes have been handed down for generations, so don’t expect any fusion or trend-setting dishes. The menu features Ethiopian standards, including split pea-centric shiro, chili-fueled awaze beef, and a boiled egg-topped chicken stew known as doro alicha. It’s open for delivery and takeout.

Tsehay Ethiopian Restaurant And Bar

A relative newcomer to D.C.’s Ethiopian restaurant scene, Tsehay has already earned a reputation for fresh and deeply flavorful cuisine rooted in Ethiopian home cooking. Co-owner Salem Gossa and her sister Sara make 100-percent teff injera daily. Their mother’s love and recipes inspire the select menu. The vegan combination platter lets customers sample six dishes at once, and the tibs are not to be missed.

A vegetable platter at Tsehay.
A vegetable platter at Tsehay.
Deb Lindsey/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Heat Da Spot Café

This Georgia Avenue NW gem is an Ethiopian-influenced answer to “what’s for breakfast?” Along with reasonably priced American diner fare, espresso drinks, and sandwiches, Heat Da Spot serves a variety of Ethiopian breakfast options that keeps regulars coming back. Bored with your breakfast burrito? Order mashed fava beans and home fries wrapped in injera. Try the ful with scrambled eggs, the chechebsa, and the kinche (porridge), firfir, and eggs. Sit on the uniquely upholstered furniture and grab a few extra containers of its homemade specialty sauce. Open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

Zenebech

This celebrated, decades-old Shaw institution relocated to Adams Morgan in 2017, but fire damage caused an extensive delay in opening. Thankfully, Zenebech reopened in August 2018 with its best-selling lamb tibs, curry goat, and marinated ground beef known as kitfo. Call in takeout orders.

A colorful combo platter at Zenebech.
Zenebech [official]

Dukem (Multiple locations)

This one-time carryout spot has evolved into a full-service restaurant, with a second location in Baltimore. Fans know to order the vegetable-filled sambusa pastries, chile-spiked fava beans (a breakfast favorite), and zesty doro wat chicken stew. The entire menu pairs perfectly with a cold glass of mango juice. Most evenings, Dukem maintains a late-night club vibe with live Ethiopian music and a full bar.

Keren Cafe & Restaurant

Keren Café is technically Eritrean, but the Adams-Morgan mainstay serves a wide menu of well-made crossover cuisine. Order a ful dish at breakfast, and don’t miss the cinnamon-infused house tea. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for takeout and delivery.

Habesha

This combination carry-out, restaurant, and market is open all day and evening, but it’s a mainstay for breakfast. Visitors kickstart their mornings with ful, featuring mashed fava beans alternately heated and cooled by jalapenos and yogurt, as well as kinche, a savory bowl composed of cracked wheat and spiced butter.

Sizzling eats from Shaw’s to-go stalwart Habesha.
Habesha [official]

Chercher (Multiple Locations)

This decade-old Shaw staple earns widespread praise from locals and celebrity chefs alike (Top Chef judge Kwame Onwuachi always makes a point to visit when he’s back in town). Named after the West Hararghe zone in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, Chercher serves sauteed short ribs, fried tilapia, and ginger-spiked lamb stew complemented by tej, a regional honey wine. Sit and stay in its charming dining room or order online here. An additional area location sits in Bethesda.

Das

This bright, white-tablecloth restaurant on M Street NW serves traditional Ethiopian fare like lentils, collard greens, and beef tibs, as well as several new takes on old favorites. The front patio tables make for excellent people watching along Georgetown’s main drag. Das also offers takeout and delivery.

The elegant dining room at Das.
Das

Ethiopic

This designed-for-date night restaurant on H Street NE continues to impress with its classic take on sizzling lamb, fried fish, and vegetarian dishes such as simmered green beans and curried potatoes. Be sure to note decor inspired by the ancient Ge’ez liturgical script. Check out the menu of “Ready to Cook” meal kits, and the Ethiopian beer sampler to go.

Meaza

Meaza is a hive of activity, serving as sit-down restaurant, market, and event space. The Falls Church watering hole offers Ethiopian coffee service and tangy injera baked fresh throughout the day.

A sizable combo platter at Meaza.
Meaza

Nazret Ethiopian Restaurant

In a city renowned for the quality and variety of its Ethiopian food, Nazret takes Ethiopian staples to the next level in its cozy Falls Church digs. Try the “Nova Combo” —  derk tibs, beef jerky-like stew (quanta firfir), kitfo, and ayib — for $36.99 and don’t miss its Sheba Tej honey wine. Call ahead for the tirre sega: strips of raw beef traditionally served with a fiery spice blend and a mustard sauce.

Enat

Family-run Enat — the name actually means “mother” in Ethiopian — boasts all sorts of meat dishes, including tibs flanked with onion and peppers, spiced lamb tripe, and tartare-like kitfo bolstered by herb butter.

Meats steal the show at Enat.
Enat

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant

Warm hospitality and generous portions of dishes using local ingredients characterize this tucked-away Old Town darling. Chef Hanan Mosa’s mother taught her to cook at age 12 and remains an inspiration. The awaze beef tibs, doro wat, and vegan sampler are must-tries. The family-run operation makes its injera fresh with 100-percent teff.

Old Town is home to Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant.
Kelly Loss/Open Kitchen DC

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