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    Ethio Cafe

    4.5 (30 reviews)

    Ethio Cafe Photos

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    Tibs with beets and collard greens
    Marlene M.

    Don't be put off by Ethio Cafe's unassuming exterior and its location (nestled between a Subway and a Title Loans). The cooks at this hole-in-the-wall know what they're doing. This little gem on the Pike really is a hole in the wall. The small seating area, which has no more than 6 tables (if I'm not mistaken), makes it ideal for a solo dinner or a date. There is usually instrumental Ethiopian music playing from speakers and CNN playing (on mute) on one of the TV screens. On my most recent visit, I ordered the beef tibs and asked the waitress to substitute the salad for collard greens and beets. I envisioned grilled tibs with slices of jalapeno, similar to how they're served at Dama. But out came the waitress with a plate of injera and veggies on one hand, and a bowl of "tibs stew" in the other. The tibs were poured over the center of the injera. It took me a few minutes to warm up to them, as the first couple of bites tasted a bit vinegar-y. But with a little persistence, I quickly found myself shoveling handfuls of tibs, collards, beets and injera in my mouth at high speed. Although it was a satisfying and yummy meal, I'd have to say that the Yestome Beyaynetu (veggie combo) wins the prize on taste and general awesomeness. Who knew cabbage, potatoes, beets, and lentils could taste SO good! Overall, Ethio Cafe is a great place for a quiet dinner. I suggest bringing a friend along so that one can order the beef tibs and the other, the veggie combo. One plate is too much food for one person...and you shouldn't limit yourself to just one.

    Huge cappuccino made from Harrar Ethiopian coffee beans.
    K V.

    This is a review of the cappuccino. Definitely strong (but not burnt tasting) and satisfyingly piping hot. They only have 2% milk so I took a point off for lack of customization. There's only one (huge) cup size available for takeout coffee but it's still relatively cheap so I can overlook that. They don't have a to-go menu so I am not sure what the food options are. Definitely an informal atmosphere with no frills customer service. The coffee, although not my favorite, is solid if you need something strong and extremely hot. Compared to other coffee shops, you get a lot more bang for your buck. Just don't expect flavored syrups and fancy toppings!

    Whole Bean Ethiopian Coffee

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    14 years ago

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    4 years ago

    So yummy! I've came here twice and it's been great. The owner and I believe his wife are very kind and hospitable.

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    14 years ago

    I got a shot of espresso here. It smelled and tasted divine! Definitely stop by if you are in the neighborhood.

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    14 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    13 years ago

    This little gem is hidden in a strip mall. Ethio Cafe is worth a stop for some flavorful Espresso drinks poured with care. No drip coffee.

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    14 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Love this place. The coffee reminds me of home. Definitely five stars.

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    11 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    Enjera Restaurant - Guest's Order: Beef Injera Special

    Enjera Restaurant

    4.3(660 reviews)
    1.9 mi•Crystal City
    •$$

    Hands down some of the best Ethiopian food in the DMV. Enjera does not miss. The flavors, the…read moremodern twist on Ethiopian cuisine, the vibe, and the service are always on point. My favorite menu item is the Derek Tibsi, but those lentils?! I could honestly eat them by themselves. Everything I've tried on the menu has been a hit, and the consistency is what keeps me coming back. I've been here multiple times, and it hits EVERY time. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. If you're looking for Ethiopian food in the DMV, Enjera absolutely needs to be on your list. Highly recommend.

    VERY EXPENSIVE. Two people should not cost $60... Like what the hell? For just some meat and…read morevegetables? Seriously? Nice decor, nice people, food is pretty good, but a lot of little things were just annoying. Really hard to get napkins out of them. You ask for more napkins, and they bring you two. Just two. Remember, Ethiopian is eaten with your hands, so it gets messy. And yet..Very stingy and cheap with those napkins. Not sure why. But they do bring you more injera, but I didn't notice if they charged us extra for it. May have. I hated the QR menu, it's very confusing, but if you ask, eventually, they will bring you an actual menu. Apparently the prices are DIFFERENT between online versus on the paper menu, which is... Shady. The food was good, so I can't really complain, the service was OK, can't really complain too much about that, but there was a distinct feeling of cheapness about everything else.

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    Enjera Restaurant - Entrance lobby

    Entrance lobby

    Enjera Restaurant - Veggie Combo For 1

    Veggie Combo For 1

    Enjera Restaurant - Patio sitting area

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    Patio sitting area

    Nazret Ethiopia Restaurant

    Nazret Ethiopia Restaurant

    4.6(261 reviews)
    2.2 mi•Skyline
    •$$
    Family-owned & operated
    Certified professionals

    Nazret is easy to miss -- tucked into the back of a strip mall packed with Ethiopian shops and…read morerestaurants in Baileys Crossroads -- but it's worth seeking out. This isn't a place you stumble onto; it's a place you have to know about, and once you do, you won't stop coming back. Chef Endalk came out to greet our table personally, walked us through the menu, and genuinely seemed invested in making sure we loved the meal. We ordered a generous portion of raw beef for kitfo, and after we sampled a piece, the kitchen happily cooked the rest to a beautiful medium rare -- no fuss, no attitude, just quiet hospitality. The vegetable platter held its own against the meats -- just as vibrant and flavorful, if not more so, with layers of spice in every lentil and green. The samosas were a fun twist too: a lighter, crispier shell closer to an Asian spring roll than the heavier Indian version, stuffed with well-seasoned lentils instead of the usual potato filling. And don't skip the housemade hot tea -- a strong bite of fresh ginger balanced with lemon and honey, the kind of thing you crave again the next cold day. Small room. Big heart. Bigger flavor. If you're chasing "authentic," stop scrolling -- this is it.

    First time trying Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint. The authenticity of this place felt…read morefamiliar and comfortable. Our server helped us decide on the VIP platter + injera. Everything was delicious but those Shint Tibs were my fave. For people sensitive to smoke, it might be worth noting that a lot of incense is burned throughout the night (very strong) but goes away after a while.

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    Nazret Ethiopia Restaurant
    Nazret Ethiopia Restaurant
    Nazret Ethiopia Restaurant

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    Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Awaze chicken and dereck tibs

    Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.6(711 reviews)
    4.3 mi•Braddock Road Metro, Old Town Alexandria
    •$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Minority-owned & operated

    Extraordinarily friendly…read more The sampler is easily large enough for two people. We had the sambusa which we loved. The hummus was different but good. We also tried the juices, which were more smoothie like but made without milk! It was a warm ambiance.

    Hawwi was a wonderful dinner with the family. Just a two block walk from King Street made it easy…read morefor us visitors to get to it. The inside is clean and inviting and the owner brought chilled bottled water to us all. We started with the baba ganouj. Not something I normally associate with Ethiopian food, but it is meant for dipping, and it goes well with injera. We got the Vegan Sampler and the Awaze (beef) tibs. It was all delicious. I'd say the sampler is enough for two people to share. Some of the items are fine in a sampler, but I don't know if I'd want a whole order of them (like the puréed lentils). Others, like the red lentils, were fantastic and I could eat a whole order of those! The tibs were solid. Nicely spiced but not so spicy that the kids didn't enjoy them. I was surprised when the order came out and the beef tibs were in the middle of the platter for the vegan sampler rather than a separate bowl or plate. One of our kids is vegetarian and we had to make sure none of it got mixed in with the lentil and veggie sides he was eating. That's really my only complaint from the experience. We arrived late, like half an hour until closing but we never felt rushed and were welcomed. We appreciated the hospitality. The prices were reasonable. Would come back.

    Photos
    Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - #17 surrounded by a veggie sampler!  Tasty....

    #17 surrounded by a veggie sampler! Tasty....

    Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Super combo sampler! Sooo delicious

    Super combo sampler! Sooo delicious

    Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegan sampler!

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    Vegan sampler!

    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

    4.4(913 reviews)
    4.7 mi•Shaw, Downtown
    •$$

    This spot was one of the highlights of my trip to DC!…read more My friend and I shared the Chercher Vegan Special with the Chercher Beef Special Tibs. The vegan platter was phenomenal- super flavorful with so much variety which I loved. As for the beef, it was tender and seasoned well. Honestly, it was hard to choose which one was our favorite because everything tasted so good! And when we were running low on Injera (Ethiopian flatbread), our server gave us more. On top of the delicious food, the service was friendly and the inside was small and cozy (there's also outdoor seating too!) Overall, fantastic spot for Ethiopian food and I will definitely come back if I visit DC again.

    Despite being located in a quaint setting that looked like a remodeled house with beautiful decor…read moreinside and out it lacked in key features necessary for a favorable rating. Namely custom service and the unfortunate late discovery of hair in my food. Arrived for a late lunch and the restaurant was sparsely populated. I noticed outdoor seating and wanted to enjoy the sun. No one was seated out there and I found a spot. A server came out @5 minutes later and advise me that I couldn't sit there. She mentioned seating was for larger parties despite being midweek and After most lunch rushes. I was moved to another table. The view was fine and I ordered my lunch. The platter I ordered had beef tibs, vegetables and njeri. As a connoisseur of Ethiopian food, I was accustomed to having lentils included in the meal. I soon found out that that was not the case, and also that utensils was not given unless requested. The couple that had finally joined me on the patio requested utensils. I opted to follow traditional style and used the njeri as my utensils. The food had good flavor and was enjoying despite the lack of lentils until I came across a piece of hair. I immediately lost my appetite and brought to the attention of the person at checkout, as it appeared, you had to bring your bill to the Bar area to check out. The person was unapologetic and swore that no one's hair was exposed. I feel that was the way of them saying that it was my hair, which was farther from the truth. I was not seeking a discount and gladly paid my bill while pointing out the obvious about the extra bonus in my meal. Sadly, I was recommended by the workers at the Marriott where I was staying. Its proximity to the hotel and adjacent Washington Convention Center made it a great choice for lunch, and was happy for the referral. They spoke highly of this restaurant, and that made the experience worse as I was anticipating the goodness. Hopefully receive better treatment when they dine there.

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    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart
    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart - Vegan assortment with some kid of beef dish

    Vegan assortment with some kid of beef dish

    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart - Same photo

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    Same photo

    Enat Restaurant - Vegetarian platter with ribeye tibs

    Enat Restaurant

    4.2(291 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    •$$

    Promising First Visit, Let Down the Second Time - Wish There is a Negative Rating…read moreDec 2025 * Friends I wish there was negative rating!!! This was my second visit to Enat Kitfo, and unfortunately, it was completely different from my first -- in a very disappointing way. The first time, I happened to be in the neighborhood and searched for an Ethiopian restaurant nearby. I decided to try Enat Kitfo because it was nearby, and I was genuinely impressed. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the server was kind and attentive. The owner even came to greet me, checked on my dish while I was eating, and made me feel welcomed. It was such a positive experience that I shared it with others and looked forward to coming back with my family. Because of that great first impression, I drove more than an hour for my second visit, this time with a friend who had just arrived from back home. We came around 6:00 PM, during the Eagles vs. Lions game in the 4th quarter -- it should have been a great evening. Unfortunately, the experience could not have been more different. The waitress was kind but inexperienced and had to ask the owner about everything. When the owner came out, he appeared unwelcoming and dismissive, which was surprising given how well he treated me during my first visit. As an Ethiopian who has lived in the Washington, DC area for a long time, this interaction reminded me of the old Ethiopian restaurant culture of the 1980s and 1990s, when Ethiopian customers were often treated poorly, while customers from other countries were treated as masters -- even though Ethiopia has never been colonized. Thankfully, competition have improved customer service standards over the years, which made this experience especially disappointing. We ordered Cotlet (fish) and Tsom Beyaynetu aka Veggie (Combo). The Cotlet (fish) was delicious, well prepared and enjoyable. However, it arrived without the combo. We waited, assuming the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) would follow, but no one checked on us. I eventually went to the bar to ask about it. The owner's response was simply "" (okay), with no concern or apology. When the combo finally arrived, it was delivered as if nothing had gone wrong. While the fish was very good, the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) -- which I had truly enjoyed during my first visit -- lacked flavor this time. There were many items on the plate, but none stood out as good. No one came back to check on us, and even ordering drinks required me to go to the bar myself. Overall, the service was extremely poor, worse than many Ethiopian restaurants from decades ago. With so many good Ethiopian dining options available today, I will not be returning. I truly want Ethiopian-owned businesses to succeed and flourish. However, I am accustomed to the American service standard and vote with my wallet. I do not accept neglect or disrespect as a customer. I hope this feedback is taken constructively so future customers are treated better and the business can improve. I wish Enat Kitfo the best, but without meaningful changes in service and consistency, it will be difficult to succeed in today's competitive environment.

    One of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants in the area. The food is always really tasty, and the…read morestaff is nice and friendly. I typically get a vegetarian combo and it always tastes delicious. On one visit, the owner stopped by our table and explained how Ethiopian food is typically eaten, which was such a thoughtful touch and really nice to learn. Overall, it's a great spot and one I'm always happy to come back to.

    Photos
    Enat Restaurant - Whole Fish and injera

    Whole Fish and injera

    Enat Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination with Whole Fish

    Vegetarian Combination with Whole Fish

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    Ethio Cafe - coffee - Updated September 2026

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