Fantastic food. Average ambiance and service. Better than most Ethiopian restaurants I've gone…read moreto. Definitely would recommend it.

It's no secret that I love Ethiopian food--so when I say **Dukem Restaurant** holds a special place…read morein my DC journey, I mean it. This was actually one of the very first Ethiopian restaurants I tried after relocating to DC, so yes... this review is *long* overdue. From the very beginning, what stood out to me was how they manage to balance fine dining energy with genuine warmth. You get the elevated presentation, the polished atmosphere--but still the friendliness and hospitality that make Ethiopian dining feel like home. I'm a loyal veggie combo person (it's who I am at this point), so I was especially excited to see that their combo options offer a wider variety of dishes than most places. It's truly a "little bit of everything" situation, which is perfect when you're indecisive--or when you're dining with a large group and want everyone to taste it all. More variety, more flavor, more happiness. The food? Rich, flavorful, beautifully prepared. The kind of meal where you slow down and savor every bite. I'm already planning to return with my partner because I recently saw on social media that they offer Ethiopian wine and even wine flight tastings. Ethiopian cuisine paired with Ethiopian wine? Say less. I love when restaurants create experiences, not just meals. And of course, we can't ignore the moment they had in August 2024 when they went viral after receiving stellar reviews from viral food critic **Keith Lee**. What stood out most wasn't just that he praised them--it was that he spoke highly of Dukem while being candid about not having the same level of service and food quality at other local spots he visited. That says something. Excellence stands out. Dukem delivers flavor, hospitality, and atmosphere in a way that feels intentional. Whether it's your first time trying Ethiopian food or your hundredth (like me), it feels special every time. If you love Ethiopian cuisine--or just love great food and great service--this place absolutely deserves a visit. And if you're like me, it won't be your last.

DAWA is the carryout concept at Elmina, and they offer various apps, main entrees, and sides…read more We were curious about their Dawa Ramen (pepper soup consommé with noodles, suya-spiced short rib, soft egg, and served with a peri-peri roll), so we had to order one of these; we also ordered: +the Oxtail Stew - served with rice and beans, a soft-boiled egg, spaghetti salad, and shito +the Bambara Bean Curry - with fried plantains and cabbage; you could also opt o add prawn +and, a side of Jollof Rice You can place an online order, which is super convenient, and your items will be ready for pickup! The staff are super friendly and efficient. Metered street parking can be found in the area. +carry-out concept from Elmina +online ordering available +efficient staff

Chef Eric and the whole staff were super accommodating and helpful. The coconut curry was great and…read morefull of aromatics but the jollof rice was even better and plenty for two people to share. Looking forward to trying Elmina proper down the road

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.

An absolute must try!!! Spent a night with friends and enjoyed the sampler platter. Everything was…read moredelicious! Goat, beef, and lamb stews were amazing. The vegetarian options were well seasoned and we enjoyed it all. I normally do not like mushrooms but became a fan. To top it off we got the coffee, and as a coffee lover I must admit, this may be the best coffee in DC! Will be back soon!

Beautiful decor. Very nice place to hang out. Staff was polite and friendly…read more I ordered a cortado. Frothed milk was solid but the espresso tasted a little burnt. I prefer medium or light roasts.

Delicious, inexpensive Ethiopian. Very friendly service, will be a regular haunt. Got the special…read morevegetarian combo, which was worth the upgrade as the beets and beans were great. This platter could feed two of us twice over.

This place was great. It was my first time to eat Ethiopian cuisine. My friend and I shared a…read moredinner for two. The food took a while to arrive to the table but it was very good. We also tried an Ethiopian lager which was good. The portion was large for two. The server was efficient and friendly. Four stars only because there were some gnats flying around and the bathroom was kind of dirty. Otherwise Highly recommend for the food.

I can't help but love this place. Last night I wandered in alone and had the combination platter…read morefrom one, as I've always gotten. It never changes. It's absolutely fantastic, it's very good pricing, and everyone is always so very kind. They make the food with such care, it always comes out tender and warm and delicious. The lounge upstairs is a great place to hang out. This is above, by far, the best Ethiopian restaurant in town.

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!

Three strikes...I'm out!!!…read more This was my third time giving Project Suya a chance. I tried the Bowie food truck twice before and walked away disappointed both times. So why did I come back? Because they finally opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Silver Spring, and I convinced myself, "Maybe the food will be different." Let's start with the positives because they deserve some credit. The restaurant is beautiful. They absolutely nailed the décor. It's modern, clean, inviting, and easily my favorite part of the entire experience. Even the bathrooms were spotless and beautifully presented. Service was good as well. The young man at the counter (I overheard that he's from Ghana) was friendly and greeted me with the classic African, "You're welcome," which made me smile. The location is a little unexpected; it's tucked into a business/industrial area, but there's plenty of free street parking, so I loved that for me. One thing that rubbed me the wrong way before I even got my food: the menu prices didn't match what I was charged at the register. The cashier did explain that the menu hasn't been updated yet, but that still wasn't sitting right with me. Customers should know the actual price before ordering, not at checkout. Hopefully they get that corrected soon. Now...the food: I know Project Suya has a loyal following, but after three visits, I'm still scratching my head. At this point, I'm convinced a lot of the people who stan for Project Suya either aren't African or haven't had consistently good, authentic West African food. That's the only way I can make sense of all the hype because, after giving them three separate chances, I'm still not seeing what everyone else is seeing. This time I ordered the suya burger with fries, wings, plantains, and jollof rice. The burger was huge, but the fries looked like they forgot the rest of the order. The portion was surprisingly small compared to the size of the burger. The fries themselves were good. The burger? Just okay. The suya? Way too chewy. I chewed...and chewed...and chewed. It got to the point where I couldn't even swallow it, so I ended up spitting most of it out. The wings were okay. The plantains were good.And the jollof rice? Sigh. Still very, very mid. To be fair, this meal was noticeably better than my previous two visits to the Bowie food truck, so I'll give them that. There has been some improvement. But not enough. I really wanted to like Project Suya. Three visits is more grace than I give most restaurants, and I think that's more than a fair chance.Unfortunately, they've proven to me three times that their food just isn't for my palate. I came hoping the third time would change my mind. It didn't.

From their backyard, to their first food truck, to their second food truck, even their third food…read moretruck...I was there!! Now they have a brick n mortar, I'm super proud of them...Let's GO!! . Where I am: @projectsuya . Location Reviewed: 8777 B First Ave., Silver Spring M.D. . Items Reviewed: STAMP!! Their Drinks ($5.99 for their Zobo-Hibiscus drink, & $4.99 for their Half n Half). A perfect sweet n sour half n half, & a tasty hibiscus drink!! STAMP!! Their Tacos ($14.99 for 3 tacos, a shrimp taco with cheese, & lettuce, a chicken taco with peppers, cheese, & lettuce, & a Suya taco with cheese, & peppers). They are all on flour tortillas, i put dry rub on the Suya, aioli on the chicken, & their Suya hot sauce on the shrimp-LIKE THAT!! STAMP!! Their Suya Burger ($9.99 Suya beef with onions, lettuce, & aioli, & fries). So look Suya beef is chewy. So it's that on this sandwich, but it's superiorly flavored!! The fries were DELICIOUS. LIKE THAT! Their Suya Wrap ($25 with beef Suya, onions, lettuce, aioli, & fries wrapped in a flour tortilla shell). Tasty, well seasoned, and everything was there! The fries threw me off. STAMP!! Their Suya Box ($25 with beef Suya, & onions, sweet plantains, & Jollof rice). I dusted the plantains, & suya with their dry rub, then put their hot sauce on the already spicy Jollof...STAMP this box!! . Customer Service: On Point! . Parking: Decent. There is street parking, & a garage next door. . Recommendations: Can't go wrong with their box!! . Accessibility: It's wheelchair & differently abled persons friendly. 5 Stars=STAMP 4 1/2 Stars=LIKE THAT 4 Stars=DELICIOUS 3 Stars=DECENT 2 Stars=PASS 1 Star=NAH #Bigschlimsreviews

This was my first time having West African Cuisine and I am glad I came here to try it for the…read morefirst time! The Chef/Owner was very kind and the food was delicious! The Amala with egusi and chicken was so hearty and delicious. The stewed chicken was also fall off the bone tender. The beef suya was nicely spiced but it did feel slightly dry. Now, I don't know if that's how the dish is supposed to be served but it was just not what I was expecting. The jollof rice paired nicely with it though. Overall it was a great experience and I look forward to my next visit to try other items!

I'm so sad to see the negative review, especially after I had such a great experience! Super…read morefriendly staff helped direct me to the most incredibly tasty spicy spinach and stewed chicken. Mmmmm. I could have eaten a huge bowl of that spinach!!! The spot itself is mixed in with a ton of other cool places inside the Solaire Social food hall in Silver Spring. Very cool vibes and I'm definitely already planning a return visit.