Extraordinarily friendly. 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! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a warm ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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I can't say enough about how much I loved my experience at Hawwi. This is. Is one of my top favorite Ethiopian restaurants. I've been to so many and none compare to Hawwi. The food was just out of this world. You can tell that it's made with love. Meats were tender, packed with Ethiopian flavors, and served with the finest injera. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant itself is very low key. The dining room is decorated with beautiful pieces of Ethiopian art work.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Our server was so kind and made us feel right at home. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food served. It is BYOB so be sure to bring your favorite beverage. For two of us we ordered the Kitfo, Tibs, cubed fish (tilapia) and five different veggies. It was plenty of food. My one and only critique would be with the cubed fish. It was a bit on the sweet side, and not as packed with the flavor as the other dishes. However, some may like sauces on the sweeter side. Can't wait to go back for another visit!!! read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Excellent restaurant! We were visiting DC and walked here from the Metro station to have dinner before heading to the hotel. As soon as we sit down the owner sets down two water bottles, complimentary. We were parched from the day so it was perfectly timed. We ordered an appetizer and the awaze chick tibs and awake tibs with some lentils, served family style. The flavors were wonderful. They don't serve beer but do allow you to bring your own if you'd like. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Awaze Chick Tibs, Awaze Tibs, red lentils, and chickpea puree. - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Restaurant smells amazing and the food was very good. We started with the falafel with hummus then each had an entree. Between all three of us we had every side except the carrots and all were very good. I loved the bread it was kind of the texture of a pancake which was fabulous for the oil and sauces. We had awaze tibs, bozena shira and KITFO. read more

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There are a lot of hip new Ethiopian places in DC. This Alexandria spot has been around a long time, and feels like it, for better or for worse. More for better in my opinion. The online ordering system was a bit baffling. There were a million boxes to check when I ordered a veggie combo, but it wasn't clear whether, for example, a drink was included or whether I had any actual choice of vegetables. I left it mostly alone. Their menu is varied. I had three different choices of sambusas, the fried savory pastry, and their mixed vegetable one had potatoes, green beans, and a distinctive sour spice mix. A more conventional spicy lentil creation also fit the bill. Getting a veggie combo to go left me with a bunch of small containers, each with a delightfully distinctive option. You'll get a wonderfully balanced meal this way, with many colors, flavors and textures. I opted to spend extra money to get 100% teff injera (this flatbread is usually made with a mix of Ethiopian grain and regular wheat when you order it at restaurants), which was spongy and a bit too crumbly for my liking. Gluten-free diners, and indeed most people with special dietary needs, will rejoice. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Sambusas - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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The food is amazing, seasoning is on point, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the restaurant is super clean[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], and the people that work here are super friendly. This is a must try if you haven't had Ethiopian food. We will definitely be back!! read more

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Amazing, authentic Ethiopian experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is immaculate and clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was delicious and fresh. The service was quick and friendly. Will definitely go back. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Lentil soup - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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A family owned restaurant with wonderful service and delicious food! We shared the Queen mixed platter which included two drinks (I had a spicy warm ginger hot tea) two appetizers (sambusas with fresh green spicy sauce) and a mix of vegetarian and meat dishes served atop the spongy injera bread synonymous with Ethiopian fare. It is perfect for scooping up every bite. Flavorful and delicious! read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Wow, wow, wow! The service is great they are very kind and welcoming. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is homey and chill, a great place to socialize and enjoy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is just awesome, amazing, wonderful. Go out of your way to come here, you will be happy, full, and glad you made the decision to venture here. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Words cannot express how much I love this place. My friends and I have been here three times so far, and every time the food is exceptional, service is kind, warm and welcoming, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the ambiance is very calm and relaxing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Hawwi is such an absolute gem in our neighborhood. Prices are extremely reasonable, and the portions are huge! [[HIGHLIGHT]]They are also extremely family friendly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I really appreciated that they had small actual silverware and mini bottles of water for kids.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My favorite dishes are so far their lentil sambusas, the vegan sampler and the tilapia. The baklava is also absolutely out of this world. Please if you are in the neighborhood, visit this place. They will make you feel like family! I even used some of my leftovers for my daughters school lunch the next day, and she ate it all! read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I came here with some friends since we wanted some dinner, and the food was excellent. We got two entrees which were served on a big plate that fed 5 of us pretty well. All the dishes were flavorful and the meats were also halal! If you're in the area, I would definitely recommend giving it a try. The server was also very kind, and the restaurant overall is very welcoming. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Really tasty food! The bread is soft and spongy, the portion sizes are pretty good. Service was a bit slow on a Sunday afternoon, we had to flag down the staff and remind them multiple times of certain requests. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

[[HIGHLIGHT]]A very quaint neighborhood restaurant in Old Town.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was really good. We have't had Ethiopian food in years. Glad we tried this spot. The service was great and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The veggie combo platter lets you try some amazing dishes. If you are looking to try something different, give this place a try. I think you'll like it. read more

Simply fantastic! We've been craving Ethiopian since we moved out to the country two years ago, so when we were in the area we knew we had to try this spot. Y'all. It is SO GOOD. Perfectly prepared, generous portions, and the owners are just the dearest folks. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Beef stew and veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great family spot![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Kind service and welcoming space. I've definitely tasted some more seasoned Ethiopian food, but we brought some first-timers and everyone enjoyed! read more

Got some lunch from here today! Walked in was not busy at all. Very friendly people asked me if I needed a menu. I ordered the Doro wat which is stewed chicken, to go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is quiet with plenty of seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] So when I got home it was good but it didn't have pop of flavor that it usually has but it was still good. I did eat some with my hands but ended up with the fork. Good place I may try again. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Counter - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Our kids are adopted from Ethiopia so we eat it frequently. This was our first time trying fish goulash and it was delicious!! The service was fabulous and the staff were all so kind and friendly!! We will definitely be back. read more

This was an amazing experience coming here with my siblings. The food was fresh and hot. The service was great! They came and checked on us a few times during our meal. I will be back when I come to visit the area again. read more

This is our go-to Ethiopian spot in northern Virginia! The food is delicious, the service is excellent, and the family who runs the restaurant is so kind. My favorite order is the vegan platter with injera made from teff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The artwork on the walls is also lovely.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegan platter with teff injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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This is a small mom and pop place in Old Town. BYOB if you want adult beverages with your meal. They'll give a bottle of water with your meal. The place was busy inside along with what seemed to be a very busy take out service. Had the Awaze Tibs. You pick your sides. It was all delicious. Will definitely make this a regular stop. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - It small and quiet at 6:30. - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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Amazing small family business! This is a hidden gem, especially for Alexandria. You can't go wrong with any items on the menu. I tried to make a reservation online but they never responded. However, I called that day to double check and they were able to reserve my spot. Again, small family business. I was with a group of 6 and we got 4 entrees and the Timatim salad. The veggie mix is basically spiced mushrooms and onions. It is more of a side dish than anything given the lack of protein, but very still tasty. The Tilapia was the winner of the night with its rich and complex sauce. As for sides, the yellow lentils were the best. The potato options are good too, but the portion could be a tad bigger. 4 entrees was perfect for the 6 of us. We definitely finished everything, but only because of how good it all was! Can't wait to come back or order takeout. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - 9. Timatim Salad, 23. Fish Goulash, 29. Veggi Mix Combo, and 33. Super Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

We had the most delicious experience with the Queen Platter. Our group of seven folks wasn't too keen on heat, and all the dishes were just about right. Even the spicier foods were manageable with water. Standouts were the doro wot, yellow lentils, potato and spinach. We also loved the meat sambusa and hummus appetizer. The service is lovely, and it feels like you're dining in the chef's home. Really great experience. read more

Don't be put off by the unprepossessing exterior - it's basically a brick box with glass block windows. Because once you step in, you're guaranteed a delicious meal for a steal. Once inside, admire the pretty interior with the mural on one wall, nice lighting, comfortable seating. The menu has something for everyone - carnivores, vegetarians and vegans. You can't go wrong, but if this is your first time eating Ethiopian food, go for one of the combos. You get a little bit of everything! And it's honestly a lot of food - you'll walk away fully sated. Everything is spiced beautifully, with so much flavor, and a wide variety of textures. Try the teff injera - it's thicker and tastier than regular injera, and won't fall apart when you scoop up stew with it. We cleaned our plates, and then hung out with some tea and dessert. The dessert isn't anything super special but we did enjoy the lemonade cake and the rice pudding, and the chai. It was mostly an excuse to sit around and talk and catch up with friends. Highly recommend, go order everything! read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Combo #2 - FYI, the yellow lentils are delicious. - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Upon further reflection, they deserved 5 stars. I was younger back then and didn't realize what impact reviews had. I think I thought I had to be extra critical and that's just a load of BS. The food was great, the owners were great. read more

Hawwi serves some of the most authentic and flavorful Ethiopian food I've had in a while. Everything tasted fresh, well-seasoned, and true to tradition. The staff was kind, and the older gentleman who served us was especially welcoming and attentive. I don't have any complaints about the food itself--it was excellent. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The only downside was the odd smell in the restaurant, which was a bit off-putting at first.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Still, once the food arrived, it was easy to focus on the quality of the meal. Definitely worth a visit if you're craving real Ethiopian cuisine. read more

Hawwi is a nice hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Old Town, but not the main part where everything else is. My friend and I got dinner earlier today and we were seated immediately without a reservation. The servers were nice and helpful when we asked for recommendations. I also liked that they gave us Deer Park water bottles here instead of tap! SUPER COMBO - 30.95 My friend and I shared this and it was much more food than we needed. The super combo came in a huge platter filled with lots of marinated meats and vegetables and a big plate of injera on the side. Each order comes with three meats - doro wot (chicken's stew with drumstick), chicken infillay, and key wot (red beef stew) - and four vegan options from their vegan sampler. For our four options, we got red lentils, yellow lentils, chickpea puree, and spinach & potato. I liked all of the meats for different reasons. The beef was tender and flavorful, and I liked how easily the chicken came off the drumstick. The marinades for all three were different and delicious. The vegan options were super tasty. The red lentils were a spicier version of the yellow lentils (?) I think, and I enjoyed the spices that went into it. The chickpea puree had such a smooth texture, probably my favorite vegan option. I also enjoyed the spinach & potato. There was so much injera and we weren't able to finish all of our food. The portions here are huge. Overall, pretty good option for Ethiopian in the area! read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - 33. Super Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I cannot recommend this restaurant enough! The only thing that disappointed me about this visit is that we waited far too long to return to this restaurant! The food and the service is above and beyond what we expected both times we have visited. THIS is a place we plan on visiting much more often! This visit was in celebration of my partner's birthday. He wanted Ethiopian cuisine and reminded how great of a time we had the first time we came here. Wow, Hawwi did NOT disappoint! Please support this wonderful establishment and enjoy the delicious food and lovely service. read more

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Hawwi is seriously great. When I'm craving Ethiopian food, THIS is what I crave. Too bad I don't live in DC :( I haven't tried other Ethiopian restaurants around this city, but Hawwi is my favorite of all the Ethiopian food I've had in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Lancaster. Their kitfo really blew me away. It's super flavorful and not too oily. The spices taste a bit different than other places, and I love it! We also tried their vegan sampler, which was excellent. Great injera texture too! We came for a weekday lunch, so the restaurant was empty. Service was friendly and the paintings on the walls are beautiful. If we lived closer, we'd come all the time. I wouldn't even be writing this review because I'd be on my way over right now. read more

Recently, a couple classmates and I did a project on Ethiopia for our geography class in college. One of my partners had purchased food from here to share with the class and it was amazing! They even threw in some extras when they found out it was for a class presentation. Amazing service and delicious food, certainly recommend whenever you are in the area. read more

Great food and service. Don't have to go into DC anymore to find solid Ethiopian/Eritrean food. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience was also quite nice--much more like a quiet neighborhood restaurant than the busting spots on King St.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Food is excellent! I've eaten there several times and the vegan options are always tasty!

I've had Ethiopian so many times at various spots and have not had a bad experience yet. This is a hidden gem/hole in the wall! We were greeted warmly and attended to promptly throughout our meal admidst a relaxing atmosphere. My friend and I shared a combo platter and enjoyed all the flavors. Would recommend to anyone seeking Ethiopian food! read more

Food and customer service are excellent! Order a combo so you can try a good sampling of the food. Love this place!

We are blessed to have Hawwi in our community. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great food, great people, great family atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The service is always kind, and the menu is rich with authentic options, especially for vegetarians. We have been going here for years. There are many other Ethiopian places in our area, but this place is real. read more

We were staying downtown Washington and took the Metro to this place. Not too far of a walk from the station. It was a new experience for me. The waiter was very helpful in explaining the meals. The other patrons were helpful too. We ordered the queen combo which had a variety of items, appetizers and drinks. We ordered the hot ginger tea -- amazing. The food was ever so tasty if we lived here this restaurant truly would be a go to place. Service was splendid read more

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This is one of the best Ethiopian cuisines in Alexandria. The food is ALWAYS FRESH, made to order. Very kind people with great customer. Absolutely delicious. read more

Homey, friendly, great food. From the outside it looks like a dark hole in the wall, but don't let that deter you! We went for my father in laws bday and the restaurant made him feel special and right at home. Love places like this! We ordered the veg sampler and fish goulash, all was excellent. The goulash was spicy in a comforting way and they fish was tender. As with all Ethiopian platters, it's fun to eat by hand & create your perfect bites. My favorite "bite" was the enjera with fish, red lentils, cabbage and the hot sauce. I'm not a dessert person, but the lemonade cake amazing! "Easy" street parking (similar to anywhere in old town). Restaurant is right on the corner of Queen & N Lafayette. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegan sampler + fish goulash - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

A fantastic place for Ethiopian food! Loved the huge variety of dishes. I got the Vegan Platter Sampler and it was a HEFTY portion for one person! A lot of delicious dishes including a Beet/potato mix, Lentil dish, spicy lentil dish, collard greens, green beans, and more and lastly a lovely Injera bread. Also comes with small spicy green condiment which I loved! I've always enjoyed Ethiopian food and injera might be a taste adjustment for many Americans but you can learn to love it. Service was very prompt (although I did take mine to go). Ambiance is pretty lacking--a standard casual joint, nothing special here. Don't expect anything fancy but not to worry the food speaks for itself. read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I don't have pics as I was too busy stuffing my face. The first dish I tried to order was spicy, I was told, therefore I ended up ordering the. Doro Wot which was mild. It was good, but I think ordering something mild took away a little bit of the flavor. Still tasty though. The waitress allowed me to add some beef since the original dish did not include that. She was very accommodating, and I appreciate that. I really love the atmosphere of this restaurant. The guy who served us was so gentle and kind. This place really is a gem. Try them out! Also, I'm a germaphobe & this place was so clean. The corners of the floor....no dust. I will ask to move tables if I'm sat near a dust railing, shelf, or anything. You can tell they don't leave any surface un-wiped here. read more

amazing experience. the restaurant, the food, the owners were all amazing. beware that some of the food had some spice heat to it. i tried one of their combos and when some of it was a little too hot for me, they prepared me a little something extra on the side that was tamer. overall, amazing place and amazing food! read more

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia