Finallyyyyy made it here. Been wanting to try the Ethiopian inspired soul food and it did not disappoint! 2 piece chicken fried perfectly, seasoned lightly (in a good way- nice flavor, not overpowering), moist. The mac and cheese was tasty with a little twist of flavor.. berbere? Idk something smoky in it.. really nice. And the collard greens, nothing super special but definitely good and worth getting again!! There was no visible person at the window, just a tablet you place your order on and wait somewhere close because they will call your order number out of that window. I want to return to try the Ethiopian taco concept!! read more

This was mid for me. Stopped by this evening, they were out of the Enoki mushroom sandwich so I settled for a shroom tibs taco and the sandwich. The mushrooms were good. I had a classic. Onions were packed on with fresh lettuce and tomato. Fries were ok with the Berbere seasoning. My hubby did say the breast from the 3 piece was tender. The Berbere seasoning is not spicy at all. So please don't think this is hot. I think he was looking for a little a more Ethiopian cuisines. But we stopped by supported. Waiter very kind. read more

This spot has been on my must eat list for so long. Finally got a chance to try it and I'm glad I did, but it fell a bit short of expectations. It looks incredible- the crisp is great on the 3 piece hot. However, I didn't find it to be spicy enough and it needed some brightness. It was a bit one note in grease, but the chicken itself was cooked perfectly, juicy and served hot. The biscuit was cold and didn't have much flavor. The chicken just had the slightest burnt flavor. It was good but I just don't know that I'd be dying to get it again--but I'd get if I happened to be in the neighborhood. read more

Doro Soul Food - Fried Doro Plate - 3 pc - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great restaurant very close to concert venues in the area. Service didn't quite hit the mark (we had to wait over twenty minutes for water refills), but the food rocked. The spicy tenders really had a kick! I loved the fusion birria tacos (although the Ethiopian spices were almost undetectable). read more

Doro Soul Food - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came across this spot while on YouTube from a video from The Experts. To my knowledge, I've never eaten anything Ethiopian, so I was curious to experience their take on Soul Food. I must say the individual pieces of chicken, as well as the strips, were really good. We also enjoyed the fries, and our margaritas were good as well. This is not to bash at all as we do plan on returning, but I'm still "up in the air" on the collard greens, and the mac n cheese was not my style at all. Other than that, I would have no problem returning, but I will stick to the fries as my side. Good job though. read more

This restaurant serves soul food with a Ethiopian flair. The chef of the resturant is rumored to be a Michelin rated chef and after eating here I believe it. I placed my order online and it was ready when I got there. I ordered the 3 piece chicken dinner with a side of collard greens. I think this place is a walk-up/carry out joint. It is located next to a bar that was really hopping when i got there. I picked my food up from a pick up window. Parking here is very tight. There is parking available in the front of the restaurant, but it was all taken and there were many cars double parking to run in real quick. I decided to park around the corner and run and get my food. My interaction with the staff was very, very limited, so I really cannot speak on their friendliness. My food was really delicious. The chicken had the hot heat and it was just right with a little kick. I cannot describe the flavor, but it is unique and I loved it. It was crispy and the sauce was oil based. The collard greens were just as unique and just as good. I highly recommend checking this place out. They have some really good food. I would say it was some of the best fried chicken that I have had. I hope to make it back here real soon. read more

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The food was amazing. Crispy, well-spiced, and well-salted. I ordered tenders thinking I would get small nuggets that I would finish in a sitting. When my order came to the table, I got large, HEFTY pieces of chicken that I was able to spread out over two days. I was the only person dining at the time, so my food came out quickly. I am not sure how the wait differs on a busier day. I was attending a concert at the local 9:30 Club, where I wouldn't be allowed to bring food inside. Since I wasn't able to finish my tenders in 1 sitting, I asked my waitress if I could hold my food there and come back before they closed, and she very kindly accommodated me! I really like the concept of the open air bar that leads into the restaurant, but (at least in October) it made way for flying critters! By the time I left, my feet were covered in bug bites. I would happily dine at Doro Soul Food again, but probably wear close toed shoes next time haha. read more

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What a unique concept that's executed perfectly! A takeout spot through a small window just north of U Street NW, Doro Soul Food takes some classic favorite dishes like fried chicken and mac and cheese and adds a Ethiopian twist. I ordered the chicken tenders and they were perfectly fried. The breading is full of flavor and crispy while the meat remained juicy. So good! The mac and cheese was very, very good too. It may be my favorite in the city. If you need comfort food with Ethiopian spices, go here! read more

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It looks like it was only for take out before, but now you can sit down next door. On the tables there are QR codes which makes it easy to order. I got the 4 pieces of the fried chicken mix of white & dark meat, spiced Mac & cheese, and berbere fries. Everything was sooo good! The chicken was pretty juicy inside especially the white meat which surprised me. The spices on all the dishes made everything taste very flavorful especially the spicedac & cheese. I love when Mac & cheese have a bit more flavor in them. read more

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I had such high hopes! Doro Soul Food has been on my list for a while so when I finally had the chance to check it out, I expected to be blown away. Well that wasn't the case. While flavorful, the chicken is fried too hard. The greens were under-seasoned and overcooked. The fries were the only item they completely nailed. They worked and seasoned perfectly. In terms of the service, the website says they close at 2:30pm but traffic was horrible so I wouldn't arrive until 5 after. They don't answer the phone so I was worried the entire time. Much to my surprise, I arrived and my order wasn't ready despite being quoted a 2:20 pickup time. From what I could, there was only an outside pickup window so don't expect to have an inside area to sit or even stand in while you wait. read more

Doro Soul Food - Fried Doro Plate - 3 pc - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Fantastic experience. It can be a challenge finding parking but the trip is worth it. There's a wonderful atmosphere with very friendly and helpful staff, and the food is fantastic. Everything we had was delicious. My wife and I had the alicha char-grilled Doro plate, turmeric Cole slaw, collard greens (best I've ever had), sweet potato fries, berbere fries, and a goden taco. I would say even if you are a big meat eater, the goden taco is a MUST HAVE. For a veggie taco the flavors were spot on. Down is definitely a keeper! Probably the only downside is parking can be difficult, street parking in DC. But go for it. read more

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Ordered some chicken, Mac n cheese and greens? The max was a lil tooo wet. The chicken was fried golden, but was a bit tough, had me questioning what animal I was eating fr. I'll double back when I'm back in town cause I believe this is a good establishment. read more

Doro Soul Food - Order Window - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Was in DC for the 1st time, and a friend recommended this place. He said its like nothing you've had before, and was right. I only had the chicken and the mac n cheese, but both were on point. Would definitely have again if in DC. read more

Doro Soul Food - Mac N Cheese - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was about to give this restaurant a five star rating because of how delicious and fresh the food was but after an in person experience (last Thursday), I'm now giving the rating shown. I was recommended to check out this establishment as well as heard many good things about this spot so I decided to try for dinner via UberEats. Since I had a good experience, I told a friend about it and he wanted to give it a try. We decided to drive to the establishment. When we got there, I noticed there was a restaurant next door, Melange and because I've never been in person, I asked someone who was working on where to go to place an order. The lady's demeanor and tone reminded me of mean girl/high school. I'm big on customer service so to be short and dismissive when someone asks a question, and not a dumb one, doesn't sit right with me. Anyway, I thought maybe the two restaurants weren't related (but they are) so we walked to the takeout window. After checking UberEats and Google Maps, I saw it showed the store as opened so it was a bit confusing. My friend asked if I wanted to see for sure if the takeout portion was closed and I said no because the vibe I got from the lady, I wasn't feeling. He went ahead and asked and she had the same reaction. There was another lady next to her and after saying yeah we saw it online via xx, xx, they were like oh sorry about that and we will update it. He said something jokingly about it too because it was obvious. I understand they were probably very busy and maybr got a few people walking up asking if they were opened, etc., but that is no way to treat folks especially because customers are a crucial part in having a successful business. read more

Only a take-out window! Everything was sooooo goooooodddd!!!!!! The flavors really come through :') I got to enjoy the Fried Doro Chicken and even the white meat was juicy! The Ethopian spices are strong, but you can choose your spicy level. The plate came with a Black Cumin Qibe Cornbread? ok I'm questioning because ours was more like a biscuit that day, but still delicious! And of course, you have to get the sides. I would get them all again: Berbere Fries, Spiced Mac & Cheese, and Turmeric Coleslaw (and I don't usually love cole slaw). The Berbere Hot Sauce was bomb, but the Mitmita Hot Sauce was way too hot to handle T_T Would come back to try more sauces! read more

Service was good and chicken moist but tasted bland. I was really excited to try this place. The muffin was not good either.

I'd been hearing the buzz about Ethiopian fried chicken made by a Michelin starred chef and had to give it a shot. I went with the 3-piece dark chicken combo. I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. The breading was perfectly crisp with just the right amount of salt, and the chicken itself was incredibly juicy and flavorful. I ordered it "hot" and it had a nice kick without being overwhelming. I'll probably go up a heat level next time. This is the kind of chicken that's absolutely worth breaking your diet for. The mac and cheese had a little crunch to it, which gave it a unique texture. I also tried the lemonade. It was alright but could've used a bit more sugar. You can grab a seat next door at Le Melange, order from Doro Doro, and enjoy your food there. read more

Doro Soul Food - 3 piece dark chicken combo with mac and cheese. - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Seasoned fresh Fried Chicken with an Ethiopian Flare. The fries were very good. The Collard Greens, I enjoyed as well. Leafy, Savory & Edible. Overall will be coming back! read more

Doro Soul Food - Fried Chicken Collard Greens Fries - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We did a bang bang (IYKYK). Don't judge. We had the fried chicken at Marcus Samuelsson's Steetbird at Wonder (boo, get it together) and had to end on a good note because that chicken was bad. If you want amazing Ethiopian fried chicken, come to Doro any day. The fried chicken is AHHHHHMAZING! The Ethiopian spice on the fried chicken is out of this world. The service is on point. If you like an indoor or outdoor experience, the bar allows you to sit inside or outside. I have lived in DC for 17 years and this place is hands down the best fried chicken I've had. read more

This spot has been on the list for some time and after missing them on Mondays (they're closed) I was finally in the area on a Sunday-Yes! This is a Ghost Kitchen and is take-out only. In addition to Doro Soul, there is Melange Burger (also from Chef Tadesse). Unfortunately, I found out that Melange (Chef Tadesse's original restaurant) has closed (April, 22). Now for the Chicken. You have three levels of heat. We opted for Berbere (medium). Maybe Mitmita (Burna Boy-very hot) next time. Flavors were balanced and intense with Chicken cooked perfectly-tender. Doro-wot flavored Mac and Cheese was delicious! Corn Bread was on the sweeter side and we enjoyed the Mashed potatoes with Peppercorn Gravy. Dipping the Cornbread into the sauce from the chicken-oh my! Service was quick and friendly. Ordered at the counter/tablets and took about 10 minutes. Great to meet Chef Tadesse. I asked if we could get the National Bird Chicken Sandwich (from Melange) added to the menu and can't wait to see what is coming next from this talented Chef. In the meantime, don't miss his one of a kind spiced Chicken as well Melange Burger! read more

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A few months ago, I gave this place five stars. The service was awfully slow for pickup and the ghost kitchen setup is a pain, but the chicken was some of the best I'd had. On today's visit, it was even slower, they didn't give me napkins for a very messy item, and the chicken was good but not the kind of greatness where I can ignore what a pain this place is. If they can nail consistency and at least get the food a bit more on time this place has so much potential. Seats where eating is not banned would help too! read more

The hot fried chicken was delicious though it wasn't very spicy; I should have went for the very spicy one. I really liked the bread it came with but my friends didn't enjoy it as much. My favorite part were the sauces the Berbere hot sauce and the ranch sauce were divine. The greens were also good but not great. We also tired the grilled chicken wings and they were very lacking in flavor and I wasn't a big fan of the texture either. I was expecting a lot more flavor from the fries but found them very bland. read more

Doro Soul Food - Fried Doro Plate - 3 pc - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was hosting people from out of town and the first meal I got for them was the best "not your average" fried chicken in DC. Pickup is pretty quick, even if you're early! I arrived 15 minutes before my scheduled pick up time and the staff was able to get the food to me shortly after. The place is conveniently located near the Shaw/Howard station so you can hop off and back on the metro in no time. Inside, they keep it simple. Order and pickup counter only. The meal was still warm when I got home. They package everything well for travel. I got us two three piece fried doro plates that comes with cornbread. I also ordered two sides: the spiced mac and cheese and the turmeric coleslaw. I loved the Ethiopian spice on the fried chicken, which was cooked perfectly. Between the dark and white meat, I acouldn't tell the difference because there wasn't a piece that was too dry! The mac and cheese was good, but I thought the coleslaw was a bit salty. For $5 per side, I wanted a larger portion size, but they still tasted good. read more

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If you're looking for fried chicken bursting with flavor this is your spot. I got the two piece chicken that included a small piece of cornbread. It wasn't my first choice but it was all they had left. The chicken was drip drip drippin. It was perfectly cooked and nicely battered. The flavors are definitely different than your original fried chicken. Cornbread didn't do anything for me and was a bit more on the dry side, but the chicken is great. read more

Doro Soul Food - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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This shih was absolutely disgusting. I'm not sure why they say it's soul food. I don't know where they are from. The chicken had absolutely no seasoning. none! The rolls tasted like dry flour and water only! And I'm not sure what kind of flour. The tumeric coleslaw sounds good, but dry, no seasoning. Not one pepper morsal or turmeric pinch in sight. And I cannot get my money back thru Instacart. It think I paid close to $30! Omg! I blame myself:-(. If you are a foreigne, please do not think that this is soul food. That's a lie! this was extremely insulting. read more

Doro Soul Food - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Definitely giving this place 10/10 for a dope location and cool name. It is a bit hard to find because it's with two other restaurants so drive carefully and slowly. There is plenty of street parking but it can get crowded especially over the weekend. When we ordered our food the person taking our order that day was not very helpful or patient but the taste of our dinner made up for it. It's not a sit down type of place due to limited seating so I strongly recommend that you take your food to go. I got the grilled chicken option with collard greens while my friend got the famous Mac and cheese and fried chicken. Both our chickens were cooked well. The fried doro my friend has so much flavor, I'd probably order that one again! The sauces that are offered were on point and I think that's what made my grilled chicken so tasty. I'll definitely come back here if I am in town again. read more

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It's OK. A bit of a let down. This was on our Washington DC bucket list, but I'm not sure I can recommend it. The wait times were insane and the staff looks through you. The fried chicken isn't bad, but it isn't good. The vegan chicken is actually pretty good - hence the three stars. Everything else was mediocre. Go once because it's a cool concept and I hope they improve on it. read more

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Outstanding fried chicken, some of the best I've ever had and extremely affordable with good portion sizes. I ordered the 3 piece white and dark meat mix extra spicy and the berbere mac and cheese. I received the meal in under 15 minutes in a to-go bag (there is limited seating). The fried chicken was quite spicy (the way I wanted it), moist, and perfectly cooked, and I appreciated the cornbread, which was also moist and chewy. The berbere mac and cheese was outstanding, with spicy and crunchy notes from the topping, creamy, and rich. Additionally, Doro Soul Food is right by the Shaw metro station, extremely easy to get to. I highly recommend for your next to-go meal or fried chicken craving! read more

Doro Soul Food - Berbere mac and cheese - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been wanting to try this place, so I placed a delivery order online. The order was prepared and delivered quickly! Got the half hot chicken, mac & cheese, greens and fries. All the items were fresh and hot. The chicken was good, I could've tried the extra hot one but I was being considerate of my boyfriend lol. I wanted to try their extra hot sauce but they were out. The greens were my favorite side!! Super yummy and flavorful. The mac & cheese was pretty good and I liked the seasoning on the fries. The cornbread was good, moist and had some sweetness to it. Definitely worth checking out! read more

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Amazing chicken - beautiful crisp on the outside and spice. I love the berbere spice, the mit mita isn't too hot but like the flavor more on the berbere. Plain is good too just not one I'd order when the other spice mixes are there. The sandwich was also good, but on the smaller side. Favorite sides are the mac and cheese and collard greens. It's a shared/ghost kitchen so no where to eat in, takeout only read more

Doro Soul Food - berbere chicken - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Take out only establishment and they make it known no eating your food in the place. It's very small! There's 3 restaurants sharing a spot, not an issue. You order your food on a tablet. Everyone seemed to be in the back cooking so not much help in the front if you have questions in regards to ordering. You have to get someones attention. We tried the greens, Mac and cheese, mix chicken, and all white chicken. I got the burna boy sauce on my chicken. The sauce was actually not that spicy to me, but it was good. The chicken was fried to perfection but without the skin with the sauce on it the chicken itself is not flavorful. I'm quite aware this is Ethiopian inspired food and I'm definitely not a fan of whatever herbs/seasoning they put in the mac and cheese. It doesn't look edible and the taste was the worse. Amazingly, the greens were seasoned well and edible. They weren't bitter for collards. read more

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I ordered chicken and Mac-n-cheese delivered. Food arrived timely - but sadly almost inedible. SOOO salty - with a slight scent of dirty feet. The Mac-n-cheese was dark and stiff. The cornbread was dry. And also so salty it was almost tasteless. Maybe I just don't like Ethiopian spices.... I was willing to give this a try - but will not be ordering again read more

The chicken and fries were both flavorful, but I (who enjoys spice) felt the dish overall was very one-note considering they both had the same spice mix. I also wish there were more options for sides. Overall, just an OK food experience. read more

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I was invited out to review this new unique Ethiopian Soul Food spot!! Yep...you read that right!! Down home, southern, Ethiopian food!! Nonetheless, I'm super excited!! They're open TODAY!! Let's GO!! . Where I am: @dorosoulfood . Location Reviewed: 1819 7th St., N.W. Washington D.C. . Menu Includes: Dark & white fried, & Char-Grilled chicken, Vegan Tenders, Fried Chicken Sandwich, Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich, Black Cumin Qibe Cornbread, Spiced Mac n Cheese, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Turmeric Coleslaw, Collard Greens, Berbere Fries, Sauces, & Mango Pudding. . Items Reviewed: Their Fried Doro Plate (2 pieces of buttermilk Ethiopian spiced dark meat chicken with MitMita hot sauce, cumin qibe drenched cornbread $9). STAMP!! Extra crispy spicy chicken, that had an evenly seasoned Doro Wot taste!! STAMP their Cornbread too!! More savory than sweet, EXCELLENT!! Their Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich (with pickles, Old Bay aioli, with MitMita hot sauce on a brioche bun $10). STAMP!! Again, crispy, savory, mildly hot, thick, & TASTY!! Their Spiced Mac n Cheese (Doro Wot flavored topped with Injera crumbs $5). STAMP!! Completely unique in flavor, cheesy, spicy, scrumptious!! Their Collard Greens (Braised with smoked Turkey, & Ethiopian spiced $5). DELICIOUS!! A soft tangy taste, & well seasoned. Their Berbere Fries (fries tossed in dry Berbere flavor $5). STAMP!! Crispy, soft hit fries with a spicy curry flavor!! . Customer Service: On Point . Online Navigation: Social Media presence. . Parking: Rough . Recommendations: The Fried Chicken, Sandwich, & Mac n Cheese!! 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews read more

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This is an interesting twist. I actually saw this place on the news . It reminds me of a Southern chicken restaurant with an Ethiopian kick. I ordered hot fried chicken ,the wings and the fries. I think this is a great way to introduce people to Ethiopian flavors. The fried chicken is delicious and I think you can also order grill or rotisserie chicken as well. Customer service was absolutely outstanding as well. The restaurant seems to be in a popup there was more than one restaurant in the facility . Note order and pick up because parking is rough over there but overall this place is worth a check out. P.s. there hot chicken is really hot when you get that spice level . read more

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This place is okay. Its a ghost kitchen setup so food quality varies a bit. Good prices relative to the portions. All the food is heavily seasoned even the mild options so if you dont like your food with seasoning, id suggest going somewhere else. While the chicken was good there are so many spicy fried chicken places in the DMV now that i wouldnt be hard pressed to come back here. Roaming rooster is just a few stores over. The corn bread was decent but quite small. I wouldnt recommend the mac n cheese that was very disappointing This place seems to be surviving off the reputation of the chef who is a dc legend and owns this place read more

We really like the chicken sandwich here they are seasoned to perfection! It's a good idea to order before getting there. It's a pick up and go kind of spot! They also have a few other places that sell out of there and the Melange burger is another favorite. Also the Doro fries are delicious but just keep in mind they have a kick to them because of the seasoning, perfect in my opinion. read more

Doro Soul Food - Our favorite chicken sandwich!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Their chicken sandwich is one of my favorite sandwiches in DC. Get it spicy (it's quite mild).

Well I might have set myself up for failure on this one. I have been researching this restaurant for about a year and finally decided to give it a try. The reviews seemed pretty good so I gave it a go with family visiting in town. We came during lunchtime, not realizing that there was no seating available until 5 o'clock. That's just a heads up for anyone who wants to try this restaurant during lunchtime. There is a window where there is a POS system. We waited at the window for several minutes for someone to come take our order, not realizing that we were supposed to use the kiosk to place our order ourselves. The food came out rather quick, which was a good thing, but it did take a while for eight people to navigate the system and place our orders. My rating of a two is not based on the ordering experience. My rating is solely, based on the food quality. Let's start with the good. The fries were pretty good. We also had the coleslaw and the macaroni and cheese and all of us had the biscuit/roll/muffin. The sides were very mediocre. I understand that all the food has an Ethiopian twist and I happen to like Ethiopian food, but I did not like the twist they put on the coleslaw and the macaroni. The muffin had potential but was rather dry. I think it would've been a lot better if they found a way to inject some melted butter on the inside. Now let's get to the main dish. The chicken came in three flavors. You can get naked, hot or hotter. I went with the I naked so I can get a full taste of the chicken first without being bombarded with any type of hot sauce. The chicken was just OK. It wasn't necessarily bad but it did lack some flavor. Maybe if they use a little bit more salt it may have gotten a three star but for what it's worth it was crispy. It wasn't dried out, but it just didn't have any real flavor you expect from fried chicken. What I later found out is that the hot version is actually a dry rub mixture, which is put on the french fries which may have made the french fries a winner. Maybe the chicken would've been better if I had applied the hot rub but nonetheless just eating the chicken plain lacked flavor. Lastly, the cost is pretty expensive. A two piece chicken added in a fry plus tax. You're probably pushing around $18 which is way too expensive for the experience and for the taste. So all in all I'm gonna give this restaurant a two stars out of five. It was even more disappointing that I brought family there which is my fault because I should've tried the food first before allowing others to try it. Lesson learned. read more

This place has the chicken. My roommate has a thing for fried chicken it seems, and this place nails fried chicken. Inside a ghost kitchen in Shaw (it's really takeout only, but there's some tables) you find some incredible fried chicken. We've gotten the chicken every time, the berbere heavy seasoning adds such a unique flavor experience. Crispy, juicy, tender chicken. Definitely worth a stop when you're in the area. read more