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    Keren Restaurant

    4.6 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Keren Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    KEREN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Keren Restaurant

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    Veggie combo and chicken tibs
    Joshua K.

    I recently went back to Keren for the first time for a weeknight dinner since the fire there a couple years ago and was pleased to find that the experience, the affordable prices, and food were as good as I remembered. I got the chicken tibs and ended up also getting the veggie combo, both of which were perfectly prepared, extremely flavorful, and a fantastic portion size. I look forward to my next visit! From October 2022: I have been to Keren several times for dine-in and takeout and the food is always outstanding. I ordered ful with a side-order of injera to-go, and the ful was creamy and appropriately salted. Keren's use of tomatoes, jalapenos, and herbs complemented the dish and the accompanying baguettes well and provided freshness. I have ordered the veggie combo and meat dishes on several previous visits and always enjoyed them. Because Keren's food is so good and the physical space is small, Keren is always crowded and you should prepare to wait 15-20 minutes for a table and 20-30 minute waits for your food once you order. Nonetheless, the wait is worth it. I order from Keren regularly and look forward to my next visit!

    Donna T.

    Super busy and they don't take reservations, but worth coming for sure! The platter is so delicious and definitely could comfortably feed 2 people, making this a really budget friendly option. I wish we got the platter with everything, but we just got the beef special. Would definitely come back!

    Front of menu
    Gabriel S.

    While walking around D.C. I decided to try this Ethiopian restaurant. It's small, clean, and has ahome type atmosphere. I ordered the Special Tibsi- Chicken, lentils, vegetables, and an injera. This was probably the best meal I have enjoyed while in D.C.! The chicken was so flavorful and the lentils were perfectly cooked. The portion was very large and it could have easily served two people but I tried my best to finish it on my own. I didn't want to stop eating that chicken! The injera was spongy and light and didn't fall apart when you picked up your food. I will recommend this place to everyone and the only reason it's not a 5 star is because the attention to service could have been better on this day. You will not be disappointed eating here.

    #3 and #4
    James W.

    Amazing restaurant for Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine with large portions and some of the best food in D.C.! Very friendly staff who came to check on us up all the time. Recommend trying their #3 or their #4 (or both!) and you can absolutely split one of the dishes with 2 people since the portions are quite large. The restaurant is a little small, so make sure to get there early, but the atmosphere is very cozy and I truly appreciated the experience.

    Vegetarian platter
    Victoria M.

    I have long been awaiting the reopening, and was pleasantly surprised to see they opened a few weeks ago. The place is your standard Ethiopian spot. It feels comfortable and intimate. There's a not a lot of tables and reservations are not available at this time. Prepare if you plan to go during a busy day/time. There's food is prepared quickly and served bubbling and hot table side. I ordered the vegetarian platter and shiro. Both were very good, although I think I would ask for the shiro to be spiced up quite a bit. The cabbage and potatoes were my favorite vegetable sides. They were so flavorful and delicious, with the potatoes just perfectly cooked. I also appreciate the large serving of salad. It like this is always skimped on at most places, so it was happy to see. My one irk is the bathroom setup. To use the toilet my face was in a urinal, which was an odd start to the meal.

    Jeff G.

    Even though it was dinner time I got their breakfast sampler and it was delicious. The fava bean dish, buttery tortilla, eggs, and warm bread, with Eritrean tea. The service was so friendly, you feel right at home.

    Special Tibsi (Beef) W/ Injera
    Ashleigh T.

    I came here for lunch with a group of friends and it was the cutest place. Situated on the corner of Florida and 18th it's easy to miss, I've probably passed it dozens of times in my years of trekking up to Adams Morgan. When we arrived we got a warm welcome as my friend knows the owners, and we sat at a table near the back. Since it was my first time visiting along with another friend we did some sampling of the menu and decided to order a few dishes to share from the breakfast menu and a pot of tea. The tea was good but really strong I asked for honey to cut the strength. I can't recall the names of everything we tried but it was all very fresh and full of flavor. It took a while for the food to come out but that's ok this place felt very welcoming. They had a steady stream of customers both dining in and doing to go orders. I would visit again and recommend you check it!

    Keren Special
    Austin G.

    Keren is back!! After a stint away, it's back and people couldn't be more happy. First opened in 1987, Keren is a small Eritrean restaurant just south of Adams Morgan. Walking in on a Wednesday at 5:30pm, we got a table for three right away. Service is quick and friendly. Within minutes, our honey wine and Keren Special were on our table. The Keren Special is a mix of beef and veggie dishes on injera. It's very tasty!

    Samantha R.

    What a fabulous experience at Keren's. The food was authentic, flavorful and just enough spicy! Super friendly staff.

    Breakfast combo
    Adrian G.

    Food/service was great, breakfast combo was plenty for 1. I had leftovers for later on.

    Spiced Tea
    Christopher J.

    Didn't know I'd fall in love so early in the year. It's only the second day but here we are. The service was swift and thorough. We got spiced Ethiopian Tea and the #4 with beef. I do not know for the life of me why this isn't #1. Everything was delicious and I will be coming back several times over the next few months. With me being observant I recognized several people walking by and patrons beside us with the same sentiments "we back!" The place was pretty intimate but not noisy. Love it here.

    Special Tibsi (Beef) with Injera
    Tiffany P.

    So happy I had my first experience with Eritrean food here, because I loved it! The restaurant feels cozy and the workers are absolute sweetie pies. I highly recommend the Special Tibsi (Beef) with Injera. Injera feels like a thin, spongy pancake with a slight sourness - It's perfect for scooping up the tasty meats and veggies. One platter is big enough to share between 2 people. Note: This is an interactive meal, in which your hands are your primary utensils. Forks are also available upon request. Add this DC gem to your bucket list :)

    Special Tibsi W/ Vegetables
    Mosa H.

    Yum! I've never had Eritrean food and this makes me want to have it all the time. Great casual spot for a quick dinner with friends. The line gets pretty long after 6:30 on weekends. We split the combo- vegetarian dishes around the outside and the beef tibsi in the middle. Everything was delicious, especially the greens and the beef. Seasoned well and the kind of spicy that is very mild and builds up over time. Would recommend the mango juice- it helped with some of the spicier dishes and was pretty unique- it was thick and almost jelly-like if you didn't shake it enough.

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    Keren Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Keren Restaurant

    Do they have gluten free options?

    I am gf and have been provided with all-teff injera here upon request for a small additional cost. It was delicious! I did not have any gluten reaction to the food here with the teff injera.

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    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

    4.4(905 reviews)
    1.1 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    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!!!!!

    Photos
    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

    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and vegetable sampler

    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.6(299 reviews)
    1.0 miColumbia Heights
    $$

    Excellent Ethiopian spot! All the staff are super kind, and all the tibs have such good flavor…read more There is lots of seating inside, and there is a warm atmosphere you can feel as soon add you walk in. We got theMeat Lover Sampler for 3 people, and we left so satisfied and stuffed! I can't choose a favorite, everything was so delicious. Definitely worth the money, you have to stop here!

    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.

    Photos
    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant
    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera, Yemisir Wot, Asa Tibs, cottage cheese and collard greens for pairing with the kitfo, Kitfo, Kik Wot, Beet and Potato Salad

    Injera, Yemisir Wot, Asa Tibs, cottage cheese and collard greens for pairing with the kitfo, Kitfo, Kik Wot, Beet and Potato Salad

    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Cozy ambiance

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    Cozy ambiance

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - We for the Vegetarian Plate #3, the Beef Goden Tibs, and the Awaze Tibs (Lamb)! Soooooo good

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant

    3.5(987 reviews)
    0.7 miU Street Corridor
    $$

    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.

    Finally made it to Dukem DC after first spotting it on TikTok, and happy hour did not disappoint!…read moreWe tried the Beef Tibs, Lamb Tibs, Special Dukem Veggie Combo #2, and Lentil Sambusa--all packed with flavor and perfect with the injera. Huge shout-out to Fefe, our amazing waitress--so friendly and attentive. Great food, great vibes, and an even better deal at happy hour. Already planning a return for the full dinner menu!

    Photos
    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Seating

    Seating

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera!

    Injera!

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Abuare  Restaurant - Ethiopian Tea & lamb DELICIOUS

    Abuare Restaurant

    4.8(70 reviews)
    0.3 miU Street Corridor

    This was an unexpected but amazing find. After my original dinner plans with my girlfriend…read moreunexpectedly shifted I decided to refer to a recent list that was shared with me, and this spot came up. It wasn't too long since I had last had ethiopian, but I only have it a few times a year. So I was pretty excited. Once we got there, there was only one of the party inside, and it had the usual delightful decor. We got to choose where we wanted to sit and we browse the menu. We were curious about whether the honey wine was on the sweeter or dryer side, and the lady taking care of us was kind enough to let us taste it before committing. We decided to share a bottle, and we decided to do a deluxe platter as well. That included six veggies and one protein of our choice. We decided on the lamb tibs. Everything came out, and it was all fantastic. I can count the times that I have had Ethiopian lamb, and this definitely did not disappoint. I missed having beats, but I did really love the lentils. Honestly, I'm surprised I hadn't heard of this spot before. The food was fantastic and I'm looking forward to returning sometime.

    Your standard Ethiopian restaurant that offers classic fare at reasonable prices. When in DC, I…read morealways try to get Ethiopian, and it always seems to come from a place where I have to take stairs down (NYC included) oddly enough. I went with the Abuare lamb tips, which were a bit spicy with the jalapeno, but packed full of flavour. It came as a set meal, but only with daal, which I was sad about at first but it was more than enough food to fill me up. The injera was plentiful and the lamb was tender and perfectly seasoned. Service was uncharacteristically good, but that might just be because it was off hours, but regardless, I was appreciative.

    Photos
    Abuare  Restaurant - Inside the resturant

    Inside the resturant

    Abuare  Restaurant - Fish dullet with veggie platter

    Fish dullet with veggie platter

    Abuare  Restaurant - Lamb

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    Lamb

    Keren Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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