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.

The owner was super friendly. We ordered two deluxe meat combos and a glass of their homemade honey…read morewine. He gave us sambosas on the house. I loved the spicy meat dishes the most. I had no idea what I was eating but it was all so fun and yummy. The meat stews with jalapeños in them were my favorites. My husband liked the chicken dishes the most. My kids really enjoyed the sambosas and the non spicy dishes. The honey wine was refreshing and interesting, not too sweet and only a hint of honey taste. Overall it was such a fun experience for our family of 4. We ended up with a lot of leftovers.

Super tasty food, fast service, friendly staff, very reasonable pricing…read more This has become a regular for my wife and myself. We eat here at least three times a month. We prefer to go on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the crowds are thinner. But don't hesitate for a Friday or Saturday night if we feel like eating their great food. The fare and service is always top notch whether it's hopping or sparse. We almost always get the vegan deluxe. If we feel like some meat, we add another dish and they are all good. I also enjoy their Ethiopian beer, Habesha Cold Gold. It is light, crisp, and refreshing with a clean finish. It has a mild malt sweetness up front, very light bitterness, just enough to balance and is smooth and clean with no heavy aftertaste The Vegan Deluxe is a combination plate that includes everything from a wonderful salad with fresh jalapeños and tomatoes to a wonderful assortment of lentils spiced in different way, also cabbage & carrots, and greens. I always feel good after our meals because the food is so fresh and beautifully done. Our pocketbook is grateful, too. My wife and I can leave with a bill of about $30 including food, a beer and tip. Not many places in Bethesda you can do that. The staff always smile and are helpful whether providing standard service or troubleshooting a challenge. The ambience is not upscale, but it's clean, beautiful, and filled with good people, whether it's the customers who are always having a good time, or the manager, who makes the rounds to ensure everything is going well.

If I could give 10 stars I would. My boyfriend and I took a quick birthday trip to DC from NYC…read more This was a last minute dinner plan after we weren't sure how the rest of the day would look post bottomless brunch. WOWOWOWOW. small space so it gets packed quick. We didn't wait longer than 10 minutes to be seated. Our servers were so delightful and happy. My most pleasant surprise here has been the service !! They gave us great recommendations and even gave us a taste of all four honey wines they had to offer. We went with the house. YOU SHOULD GET THE HOUSE HONEY WINE !!!!!!! Everything we had was absolutely amazing. My vegan bestie got her veggie platter and my boyfriend and I split the beef tibs and were so so full and satisfied. We have been waiting for the opportunity to go back. This was our last restaurant stop during that trip, and it will be the first stop for our next. They play no games here !!!! Serious food, serious flavor, serious service!!!!!! We highly recommend!!!!!

Amazing Ethiopian food! Glad I made it even with all the snow everywhere…read more Service is very friendly. Ordered the meat platter, large serving size with many different meat dishes. Recommended to try them all.

This is a great local Ethiopian spot in the heart of H Street. I was surprised to see an empty…read morerestaurant when I first walked in. However, the owner was present and she gave us a ton of recommendations on what to order. I ended up ordering the meat special with the veggie platter. While waiting for our food, I observed the interior... there's an emphasis on Hungarian and Australian landscape videos (which I personally found pretty cool). I will also say this place was very clean. After 10 minutes of waiting, the platter came out. Everything tasted fresh and it was the perfect amount of food. It was also not that expensive relative to other Ethiopian places in the neighborhood. Overall, I will definitely come back again and would encourage everyone to check this place out.

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

Ethiopic was a solid experience, but did not quite stand out in a city with so many strong…read moreEthiopian options. The vegetable sampler had a decent flavor profile, and I enjoyed the beef tibs the most out of what we ordered. The fried tilapia was fine, but nothing particularly memorable. If you are someone who has Ethiopian food occasionally, I would probably recommend exploring some of the other spots in DC where the portions feel more generous and the flavors hit a bit harder. Service can also be a bit inconsistent, which matched some of the earlier reviews I had seen. We had ordered drinks that were forgotten until we followed up. Overall, not a bad experience, just one that blends into a very competitive dining scene.

A Masterclass in Spice and Soul at Shagga…read more If you are looking for an Ethiopian dining experience that balances traditional warmth with culinary precision, Shagga Coffee and Restaurant is a must-visit. My recent meal there was a testament to why this spot remains a local favorite for comfort food with a kick. The Main Event: Spicy Chicken, curry's potatoes and Chickpeas The star of the table was the spicy chicken and chickpeas. The chicken was tender, having clearly absorbed the complex, earthy notes of a well-developed berbere spice blend. The addition of chickpeas provided a wonderful textural contrast--creamy and hearty--making every scoop with the injera feel substantial and deeply satisfying. Perfectly Paired Sides Accompanying the main were the curry potatoes with carrots, which were a standout in their own right. Often, potatoes in a platter can be an afterthought, but these were perfectly soft without being mushy, carrying a vibrant turmeric-forward curry flavor that offered a mild, aromatic reprieve from the heat of the chicken. The Beverage Balance To wash it all down: * The Ginger Ale: A crisp, bubbly palate cleanser that cut through the richness of the legumes and spices perfectly. * The Coffee: You cannot go to a place named "Shagga Coffee" and skip the brew. The strong coffee was the definitive highlight of the finish--bold, dark, and incredibly fragrant, reminiscent of a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. It provided the perfect caffeinated punch to round out a heavy, flavorful meal. Service was quality though only one person was there to serve the entire venue. More staff came as time progressed. The ambiance was that of a quaint jazzy vibe that is nestled on then edge of downtown hyattsville md hustle. Almost entirely dark wood grade with wood furniture almost as dark and bold as the coffee. The coffee was strong, stronger despite me adding 5 cream and sugar. The bold flavor kept me awake in my 2 hour drive home. The Verdict Shagga succeeds because it doesn't cut corners. From the depth of their spice blends to the robust strength of their beans, it's a soulful experience that leaves you feeling both full and invigorated.

This was my first time here…read more It's really cute when you walk in, very intimate with bar and some artwork. The staff was nice and answered my questions on ordering. I got #19 which is the combo of 2 meats and 2 veggies: doro wat, yebag tibbs, collard greens and lentils. I was hoping it would be a little spicy but it wasn't. I wasn't feeling the portion of the actual food but they gave us lots of injera.

Stopped by for dinner while in the area. On a Saturday night, we were able to grab a table for two…read moreas a walk-in. We shared the Eatopia Special Tibs and Asa Gulashi. Both were good and had a lot of flavor, just wished they had more spice. We asked for a side of the spicy sauce and seasoning and this definitely turnt up both dishes! I also enjoyed the Le Anchi special cocktail, which was perfect for the cooler weather that day. Service was great. Street parking available

the food here is amazing, top of the best flavors I've had and the drinks are also good and unique…read more service was prompt and food came out very quick, and tasted warm and fresh. the restaurant has a calm ambiance and it was quiet. my waitress took her time to share with me the culture, amazing experience.

After almost 7 years, I was in the area again and I was super happy to be able to come back…read more The food is still amazing The people are still awesome, one of the best services I've ever had. We all loved it, and can't wait to be in the area again !

Enatye is a true hidden gem, tucked away in the back of an industrial park. You'd never know it was…read morethere unless someone told you--or you were actively hunting for Ethiopian food. At first glance, I wasn't impressed ( yeah yeah judging a book by its cover... I know better) I was wrong. The food was very flavorful, generous, and downright satisfying. We started with the sambusas (meat and veggie). They were good, though a bit mild (personally for me), I still give the edge to an Indian samosa, but that's just me. The combo is absolutely the move. We shared a three-person platter with lamb, beef, and chicken tibs, plus a variety of vegetarian dishes (see photos). Everything came served on rolls of injera, the spongy Ethiopian flatbread. This is a hands-on meal. As in, you eat with your fingers. Yes... it was glorious. The presentation is classic Ethiopian style: a large platter lined with injera, topped with meats and vegetables spread out like they're feeding 50 million people. The trick is to tear off the injera under the food, not the extra rolls, because it soaks up all that flavorful gravy. It's harder than it sounds, but totally worth it. The main dishes were very flavorful. I was genuinely impressed by both the quantity and the depth of flavor across the entire meal. These are the happy surprises I live for. Highly recommend giving it a try.

I came to Enjera for dinner and the food was delicious. Everything was seasoned to perfection and…read moreour server was really nice. We ordered the vegetarian sampler mixed with the meat sampler. My favorite parts of the meal were the chicken and lamb. It was a warm day so we sat on the back patio, which had good background music and curated a great vibe. I definitely suggest outside seating if it's a nice day when you try!

I've been a customer here for a few years, I have mixed thoughts about this place…read more Nestled in the heart of the Aurora Highlands 23rd street restaurant strip, Enjera is a quaint, cutely-decorated eatery, adorned with paintings by Ethiopian artists, the city skyline of Addis Ababa, and framed French/Italian wine adverts. It's eclectic and encapsulates an element of the immigrant experience in how it's decorated. Likewise, despite three stars, I do keep coming back because the food is quite superb. Always flavorful and with a decent variety of traditional dishes on offer. Their veggie combo is among their signatures, and I often also get the Asa Spris (curried fish stew) when I visit. I do, unfortunately, have to dock a star here for some of the cuts they've had to make; a small side salad used to accompany most entrees, but now costs $9. I understand inflation is ever-present, but that's eyebrow-raising. Moreover, the injera they provide seems to be in smaller bundles than previously, usually not enough to complete a meal including the piece it is served on, which means you usually need to ask for more. And this segways to why I have to dock another star for the service quality; it could be much better lately. Typically, I find that I have to seat myself, which isn't a huge deal, but the waiters often disappear from the dining room for up to 15 minutes at a time. I've had to get up to refill my water or grab napkins from the waiter station, which I feel bad doing because it's technically not somewhere clients should be accessing on their own, but I often don't have any choice. Finally, the website hasn't been updated in years; don't look at the menu posted there unless you want to lament how inflation has taken its toll on affordability. Overall, I give Enjera props for having quality fare and a nice little venue, but there are some issues I'd encourage management to address.

Terrific meal and will be back again. Kitfo was a star and the greens were stellar. Braised lamb…read morewas another excellent protein. Red lentils were super. Service was efficient, very helpful, and friendly.

First of all, if you are going for the first time, make sure u check the name as this strip mall is…read morefilled with Ethiopian restaurants. And the restaurant number should be verified until the last alphabet. The restaurant is cozy with a small bar and room enough for probably 50 people including the bar. My wife and I tried the VIP platter at the chefs recommendation. The platter comes with Chicken and Beef with 6 veg side dishes over an Injera. U also get 4 injeras with the platter. As a first timer, the portion looked big for two folks. The food was not spicy as we thought it might be. The beef and chicken was good but the side dishes were awesome

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Cottage House today! Kidush was a gracious and knowledgeable…read moreserver! The Tomato Fitfit appetizer wax fresh and gently spiced. My wife enjoyed the Beef Alicha Wot while went for the spicier Lamb Kay Wot. Go. You won't be disappointed!

Very nice service staff, lovely people. The food was not as kind. We ordered six dishes and 4 of 6…read morewere half the portion size from other U Street corridor locations, especially the tibs. Paltry and with little seasoning. And the injera under the food was literally dry on the edges, so what should have been the most moist was the opposite. Really wanted to like it as taking some newbies for their first experience with Ethiopian and not sure they will be back. Quick follow-up: Got a good note right away from the owner that expressed appreciation for the critical feedback in the review above, explained why it likely happened, and assured me there would be steps taken to address the shortfalls. Left me with the impression that the feedback was being taken to heart and that our experience may have been an exception rather than the rule.