Once I walked in I could tell we were going to have a great dinner! I was craving Ethiopian and…read moredragging a friend along before an event nearby. The place feels like a mom and pop place with a bunch of different items laid out behind the glass. We were a little confused about ordering but someone at the register to the left gave us menus and we ordered. We got the deluxe veggie combo to share, which was a great price at around $15! After we paid we sat and the food came out quick. The portions were huge! We did ask for extra bread and they got it for us quickly without an extra charge. The food was just delicious. If you're looking for authentic Ethiopian food this is a great place!

AMBIANCE: Don't look for nothing fancy because you ain't…read moregonna get it. My bf and I had been CRAAAAVVVVIIING Ethiopian food for a minute. And it's his favorite food! So, he's been wanting to take me to the place him and his dad have always gone to, so know they've been coming here for years-- his dad is a dc local so... stamp of a approval 100%! It looks small when you walk in but there more seating the deeper in you go. SERVICE: Know what you want to order and get it done. You order at the cash register and then we wait for the food. FOOD: Flavorful, filling, the samosas were FRESH. Really, you could tell everything tasted very fresh. We also went in the morning if that means anything to you. Spicy but that's just me, I can't do spicy haha. Nonetheless, we coming back soon!

Food was great! Very accommodating. The platter was able to easily serve 5 not-so-hungry folks.read more

I seriously wish I lived in the DC area because I would be back here ALL the time! The entire…read moreexperience was amazing, but Blen was absolutely the shining star of our night. She was so personable, gorgeous, and had the most welcoming aura. She made us feel comfortable from the moment we sat down and genuinely seemed excited to help us experience the food the right way. We told her we wanted something traditional and MEAT HEAVY, and she understood the assignment! She walked us through the Ethiopian platters, explained everything, and gave us recommendations that were exactly what we were looking for. And the FOOD?! Everything was delicious. The different meats, spices, sauces, and injera all came together so perfectly. There were so many different flavors on the platter, but somehow everything complemented each other. Every bite and every new combination tasted different in the best way. We left VERY happy and very full! We also tried the traditional Ethiopian honey wine, tej, and I'm so glad we did. It was sweet, smooth, and completely different from any wine I've had before. The fermented honey gives it such a unique flavor profile, and it paired so well with the food. Definitely something you should try at least once...although I'd happily drink it again! Amazing food, amazing experience, and exceptional service. Blen, you made our night! If I lived in DC, you would absolutely have a regular on your hands. Until next time! Oh!! Also LIVE JAZZ ROMANTIC AMBIANCE!!!

I ate here a few weekends ago with my boyfriend. I've eaten Ethiopian food a handful of times, but…read morewanted him to try since he's never eaten it before. Since they had high reviews, and weren't too far from me, I figured this would be a good place to try. We had perused the menu online before coming inside so knew what we wanted to eat. I ordered the veggie sampler with red lentils, tomato salad, yellow split peas, and collard greens and a side of goat stew while my boyfriend ordered the mushroom tibs (unfortunately there are no pics due to us being too hungry to snap a photo :-( ...The veggie sampler came with a side of injera. The injera came out way before the actual platter. Since I was very hungry, I actually nibbled on that, and wished everything came out at once. The veggies were pretty tasty, but for some reason, I wasn't excited about my overall meal. The goat stew was pretty good too. What I really enjoyed was my boyfriend's dish of mushroom tibs. It was nicely sautéed and well seasoned. I'd probably order that if I ever went back. The interior was very colorful and earthy. The owner, I think, was also very hospitable.

Excellent Ethiopian spot! All the staff are super kind, and all the tibs have such good flavor…read more There is lots of seating inside, and there is a warm atmosphere you can feel as soon add you walk in. We got theMeat Lover Sampler for 3 people, and we left so satisfied and stuffed! I can't choose a favorite, everything was so delicious. Definitely worth the money, you have to stop here!

We saw a few Ethiopian restaurants in DC and took a shot on Shewa. It's quite a ways from downtown…read moreand when we arrived, it definitely seemed like a rougher part of town. We arrived at 10:10 and the doors were locked. Called the restaurant and an employee said that they'd be open in a few minutes. A few minutes later, a man and an older woman said hi to us and went into a side door. Turns out that was the owner and his mom (the chef). They light incense in the restaurant and the odor is quite strong. I remember on Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsey yelling at someone for having scented candles because it messes with how the food tastes. Luckily, the food had enough flavor to overcome the incense. We ordered two meat combos and asked for them to give us some variety since I had never tried Ethiopian food before. The dishes came out with 16 items, with only one repeat. I can't really tell you what I ate since there were so many items, but I did really like the chicken and lamb. Very flavorful and just a fun experience from eating with our hands and the variety of options. One combo can easily feed two people. For our two adults and two kids, we had enough for leftovers. Honey wine was not my favorite thing, but the rest of the dining experience was very memorable. We were the only customers, so the owner came out and chatted with us for a while. Very friendly.

My friends who live nearby rave about this place. Maintaining a top rating on Yelp and Google, I…read morehad to go. A friend and I showed up around 1:30pm on a Friday for lunch. The owner greeted us and quickly took our orders. The Deluxe Meat Combo generously fed two men. Every dish on the injera was tasty, but our favorites were the Shewa Doro Tibs, Shewa Alicha Wot, Shewa Doro Wot, and Shewa Bozena Shiro. The portions are generous that we had to ask for more injera. The space is no-frills, but comes with a few small tables. Street parking is nearby.

If you are anywhere near this restaurant please stop by. The service and food was beyond excellent…read more. I didn't want to wash my hand due to the memory of the yega tibs. I should have ordered something else to go. Out of all the main Ethiopian restaurants in DC you will not be disappointed.

Food: 4 * Service: 5 *…read moreAmbiance: 3 * This place is right next to Dacha. Portion sizes are good. I think the food needs more aggressive seasoning, because when compared to Cher Cher or Dama Bakery (Arlington), this place felt a little more Bland. But I still very much enjoyed my food.

This is my go-to, never disappointing, always a good time and appropriate price place for a…read moreFANTASTIC meal. In a town with outstanding Ethiopian food, this place still shines brightly. The food is always good and quick. They have really good happy hour drink deals and the patio is a really fun place to people watch. I love this place so dearly

It was a gorgeous summer night to eat outside and glad we picked Tsehay. No reservation needed on…read morean early Friday night, though the tables inside and out were pretty full by 7pm. Ordered the 3 meat/3 veggie sampler, which admittedly wasn't as generous portion-wise as I thought it would be for the price ($50), but we were satisfied in the end (and had room for Van Leeuwen ice cream a block away). The spicy lamb in red chili sauce was especially tasty, but I've had more flavorful kik alicha (yellow split peas) at other Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants. But gotta shout out the injera, which might be the best in the city - lighter in color, not too thick and heavy like most other places. I'm a fan.

Best date spot I've been to in awhile. Veggie plate 2 with fish was excellent- Delicious,…read moreaffordable, vibrant, this is what all restaurants should strive for. Yes, the fish has bones, that's flavor. I had leftovers with my date and I eat a ton. Service was kind and excellent with water refills. Can't say enough good things about Ethiopic! May they forever be a neighborhood staple

I read the reviews before walking in the door, so I knew I could encounter "meh". And that's what…read moreI received, so it didn't necessarily disappoint me. We entered a sparsely populated restaurant and STILL encountered delays in ordering and getting our food. But that's okay, we chatted through ten minutes of hunger pains until the waitress approached. I will add that the decor was wonderful inside. They also had outdoor dining as well. As for our food, we ordered the samosas as a starter. They were very crispy; almost too crispy. They were not as favorable as others I have tasted, but definitely edible. The vegetable sampler #1 was more than enough, with a great variety of menu selections. I must state that the gomen was my least favorite because it lacked favor. We added doro wat and beef tibbs. Both were just okay. As others have mentioned, there are many Ethiopian restaurants in DC. Some stand out, while others barely try. This one on this day, was just okay.

Your standard Ethiopian restaurant that offers classic fare at reasonable prices. When in DC, I…read morealways try to get Ethiopian, and it always seems to come from a place where I have to take stairs down (NYC included) oddly enough. I went with the Abuare lamb tips, which were a bit spicy with the jalapeno, but packed full of flavour. It came as a set meal, but only with daal, which I was sad about at first but it was more than enough food to fill me up. The injera was plentiful and the lamb was tender and perfectly seasoned. Service was uncharacteristically good, but that might just be because it was off hours, but regardless, I was appreciative.

This place so cozy and delicious!…read more We ordered the combo with two meats, and my friend ordered doro wat to add to it. I don't eat beef or chicken, so I only had the vegetarian options. The cabbage was the highlight! Flavorful and it wasn't spicy in my opinion. I also enjoyed the shiro! The injera was flowing and it food was more than enough for three people. And the service was welcoming and warm.