I love Keren Restaurant. I wish we lived closer as I would eat here regularly if I could. The food is excellent. I love the chicken and beef tibsi with vegetables. Everything is delicious; I have a hard time deciding which I like better between the meats and between the vegetables. The bread is so light and yet the meal is so filling. I always lament that I get full because I want to eat more. Keren is small and can fill up quickly, but we've come earlier in the evening to avoid the crowds and haven't had an issue. The service isn't fussy and is very friendly. They make you feel very welcome to sit and enjoy your food for as long as you like. Do yourself a favor and go to Keren. You'll be glad you did. read more

This is such a cute and tasty restaurant. I have recommended it to all my friends already and they all love it. The food is delicious and the waitresses are so nice and very friendly. It is a small place which does not take reservations so be aware of the long lines during the weekends. However the waiting worths it. If you are not familiar with the cuisine type, they have a combo plate where you can try everything at once and share it with friends. It has very filling and big portions too read more

This is my favorite Ethiopian place in the city and Ethiopian food is seriously my favorite thing about DC so I've tried a lot of the eateries here. I love Keren dearly. I've been coming here since 2014 and it's where I bring all my friends and family to. It's tiny and things can sometimes move a bit slowly, but it's all worth it. Anything with lentils is absolutely delicious and don't forget to try the honey wine! It's really sweet, but I love it. Location wise, it's in AdMo at the bottom of the hill slightly away from the main bar scene. Probably easiest to just uber to. The place is really tiny and I've seen the line get long so I would recommend playing it safe on the time/hunger front. read more

Came here for breakfast with friends. We all ordered different things but I'm sure we could've shared their generous portions! We had: Ful with Tuna Egg sisli Tea Everything was tasty! The portion and customer service is great! read more

Amazingly good! This has to be one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in DC. My friend found this of course on Yelp. We decided to Uber over for lunch. It was definitely worth the ride and extended lunch. It's a small restaurant on the edge of Adams Morgan. I ordered the Veggie Combo with chicken. I wish I could have finished my platter. Everything was so good!! But I got full :) I will definitely return to this restaurant! read more

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Delicious food! I just wish they had a bigger space to accommodate more guests. Try the traditional Eritrean breakfast, and if you like your eggs in a more spiced flavor style ask for Egg Silsi! read more

Fantastic food, unbelievable prices! Since my go-to Ethiopian spot, Zenebech, closed, I've been on the look out for a replacement. Keren does not disappoint! We ordered the Keren Special, a vegetarian combo platter with special beef tibs. We also added an extra order of beef tibs. Altogether it was more than enough food for three of us. Moreover the bill was only about $30! The only downside, as noted, is the small space and wait. And although service while we were seated was great, we did feel ignored when we first walked through the door looking for a table. Definitely recommend coming in a bit before 6pm if you want a shorter wait. read more

Keren Restaurant - Keren Special, veggie combo platter with beef tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was raining and there was a line for this place, but the food was pretty good. The house wine was a tad too sweet for my liking. If you order an entree it will come with injera and then they give you an extra side of it too so take that into account while ordering. Coming from San Francisco, there is a great Ethiopian restaurant next to work and so I'm coming at this with a slightly spoiled attitude. read more

Awesome breakfast! #20 is all you need to start the day. Great coffee and nice place. read more

Keren Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Wonderful food, plentiful, and ready when asked for. I ordered the fish dulet on line. When I picked up the package - hot and waiting for me - it took me just minutes. At home I unpacked a lovely lettuce, and tomato salad, 3 large rounds of injera, and sizeable portions of fish dulet (it will make 2-3 meals for me), chopped greens with spices, and what I think are lentils. I won't need to cook for days. The food is spicy but not overly hot - just a nice combination that tastes great! I'll be delightedly eating leftovers for several days. Makes my life easy. read more

Last time I was here 9 months ago, it was my first Ethiopian food experience. I tried a few other places afterward, but couldn't find anywhere that comes close to this place in terms of its goodness. We started off with a glass of honey wine. It's more of a dessert wine and goes well with the food. The injera is spongy and sour. I can it this all day by itself. We got the #4 Karen special which was a veggie combo with a choice of either beef or chicken. The beef was a little overcooked and chewy, perhaps from sitting on the food warmer too long. But everything else was just so delicious. The staffs are very friendly. I wish there was an Ethiopian restaurant as this where I live. Thumbs up. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the area! I generally get the Keren Special with beef, but have also liked the fatta silsi and ful. I'd try more on the menu, but always find myself craving the same thing. Portions are generous, one entree generally lasts me for 3 or 4 meals. I've eaten in a couple of times, but since it gets very busy for dinner I more often get takeout. There isn't much of a waiting area, so for dinner you'd want to come early or make sure the weather is pleasant to stand outside while you wait. Breakfast and lunch are less crowded. Staff are always very nice and friendly as well. read more

Thursday, 8:15 PM. Quickie: + Food quality + Service - Hygiene + Atmosphere - Turnaround + Menu variety + Layout And then...? Keren makes injera that tempers sour and keeps the spongy texture. Two combo platters (meat and veggie) satiated seven of us. ********** Constructive comments: *Source ingredients *Compost options read more

Amazing food and amazing people. Locally owned, which is a treasure to find these days in dc

Keren is by far the best Eritrean restaurant in the DC area. We typically order the Keren special with chicken tibsi which comes with several vegetarian sides (perfect for two people). Other delicious things we've tried include the egg silsi, ful, and tuna silsi. The staff are great and the owner is very friendly! If you don't like long lines down the block, avoid going during peak hours (6-9pm). read more

Just the BEST authentic Ethiopian food. Went here around lunch time and a bunch of Ethiopian folks were coming in for their lunch break. Go here! read more

First time ever having Ethiopian food and I was blown away! So many amazing flavors! We ordered the number 1, 2 and 3 so we got a huge platter with potatoes, cabbage, 2 different types of lentils, something like collard greens, steak, salad and this red sauce that was like pure gold! No forks or spoons you use the soft flat bread to pinch your bites. Such a fun, new experience and I will make it a point to come back when I'm in DC! read more

Keren Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This hole in the wall restaurant will not disappoint. What the restaurant lacks in eye luster it makes up for in flavor. The pallet of spices used in the food is sure to please your tastebuds. Although you are likely to have a wait during peak hours, it is well worth it. The waiters are quick and friendly, the food is cheap and delicious, and the environment will make you feel at right at home. Don't miss out on the wonderful DC find. read more

This place couldn't be better. Hands down my favorite place to eat. The food is amazing and the people are better. Keep it simple with beef tibs and the tea. One beef tibs order should feed 2-3. Helpful hint: you can get extra meat if you have a larger group without ordering another platter. Tell them I sent you and ask for our favorite waitress Nazia! read more

Keren Restaurant is one among the smattering of delicious and authentic Ethiopian restaurants that DC has to offer. I had seen reviews and bookmarked Keren but it wasn't until a few months ago that I was strolling towards Adams Morgan and saw this tiny sit down shop adjacent to the obnoxious Duccini's. Since my devastatingly handsome life partner lives rather close to the location, I coerced him into accompanying me to Keren. While Keren isn't exactly Ethiopian but *technically* (for all the food snobs out there) Eritrean, it still offers those robust stewed flavors that you're looking for. My companion and I split the vegetarian platter and a fuul which was MORE than enough for two people. DAMN, that veggie platter brought all the boys and girls to the yard! I was shoveling morsel after morsel of perfectly stewed lentils, potatoes, cabbage and chickpeas in my mouth while accompanying it with pillowy injera. Since eating here, I've had hot flashes at work where I've just craved their food! While eating here is slightly inconvenient due to the small size, take out is fairly quick and simple. If you're a fan of Ethiopian/Eritrean food, you simply must check Keren off the list! read more

The food was excellent. I would definitely come back again. This was our first time experiencing Ethiopian cuisine. My boyfriend and I had the Keren Special with the beef and added a side of Chicken. Excellent choice for beginners. They also gave excellent customer service. They opened the door for us as they greeted us and checked during and AFTER the meal to see if we enjoyed it. read more

Thanks to Yelp for directing me to this place. I was in the mood for Ethiopian food one night, and was surprised to see this place so close to my apt. and highly reviewed here. Like I'm sure many of you have done, I've walked/drove by this unassuming place countless times. First, it's Eritrean food, not Ethiopian, but for uneducated people like myself who had no idea where Eritrea is, describing it as Ethiopian food to others will get most of the point across. A quick Eritrean youtube video later, and I learned that Eritrea was chosen by Mussolini to be the launching pad for further African colonization. So what does that mean for the food? Italian influences! It explains what seems like oddly listed pasta dishes on the menu. We went that night with what I believe was called the tbsi special. A large spread on enjera of salad, cabbage, lentils - which were the greatest things I've ever eaten, and seasoned meat. Asked for it spicy. Of course, we each received a rolled up piece of enjera to gobble up the meal. The girl and I were thoroughly stuffed as we cleaned the platter. Absolutely delicious. A ton of incredible food for two people for a grand total of $12. I was floored. Please frequent this place and keep it around! read more

Although Yelp says Ethiopian, this is actually Eritrean food. The style of food is similar and we greatly enjoyed the food. For those we have never had Eritrean food, you eat with your hands (so wash before you eat) and you eat the meat or veggies with the staple food, injera which is spongy and sour. Even at 8:30 pm on a Friday night, this restaurant was packed! We waited for an hour but it was well worth it. The food was flavorful and mild and the price was right. Between the 5 of us, we ordered two Keren Specials, fatta (fava beans), and a honey mead which came out to $55 total. What a great deal! A few tips: - don't come with a big group, most were parties of 2-3 and it would be hard to find seating for bigger parties. - come early, this place was popular and gets packed - try some of the other dishes from the breakfast menu side as they will serve during dinner. read more

I went to Keren with high expectations, given the positive reviews it has gotten here on Yelp. I was deeply disappointed. I confess that the service was excellent. Genuine smiles from the staff, just the right amount of attention. I also liked the vibe of the place; a lot of warmth and charm. If I were rating this restaurant based purely on service and ambience, I would give it four starts. Alas, being a restaurant, it also has to serve good food, and it fell way short here. I ordered the Tbsi Special with lentils and chick peas. The lentils were quite good, and the portion was generous, but otherwise the meal was below average. The main culprit: the meat, which was of horrible quality. Tough as nails, rubbery, lacking flavour, just a total mess. The seasoning was passable but not particularly complex or interesting, and a little on the sour side (though that's a matter of taste). The bread is as expected, the chickpea side dish was bland. I feel there is tendency amongst some of us to award a place stellar ratings based on its being small, non-mainstream, ethnic and quirky. I like authenticity, small businesses and interesting, less common cuisines. Love them in fact. But the meal was mediocre, and there is no excuse for using meat of such poor quality that it falls below the standards of airline and cafeteria food. I doubt that any successful restaurant in Eritrea could get away with that, and this strikes me as cynical cost-cutting, not authenticity. Two stars for good service and atmosphere. One star for food. Don't bother. read more

Don't make my mistake, get a reservation because space is limited and this place is popping. The air conditioner had trouble cooling everyone but not one expected this place to be super classy. It was our first time having Ethiopian food but the flavors and combos were very good. Food is cheap and service is pretty non existent because it looks like the owners are cheap, and the waiters walk around with this blank face like they don't want to be there. But like I have said before I don't care as long as you feed me delicious food at a reasonable price. read more

Very big portion, overall very good food. Too much a tomatoes in the chicken. The ambiance​ is average. Wanted to try a new cuisine but not a very big fan of Ethiopian food. read more

Keren Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

PROS: wonderful wait staff, best Ethiopian food in DC, wonderfully casual restaurant environment! CONS: limited seating, wait. read more

Absolutely terrific. I was thinking about this meal for days after. We ordered a combination of the chicken and beef tbsi. Everything on that plate was outstanding. The sides included spinach, lentil, and a green salad. We also ordered a side of cabbage. All of the sides were great (the salad was a salad but worked well to add some crunch to the meal). It would be hard to pick a favorite between the sides, but I would definitely recommend ordering a side of cabbage, it is absolutely worth it. The beef was my favorite, my girlfriend's the chicken. The beef had a thick sauce to it, earthy flavor with a little spice to it. The chicken was cooked with onions and tomatoes. Both were terrific, I don't think you could go wrong with either. We ordered the Ethiopian coffee. Make sure if you want this, you order it before placing your food order, they roast the beans per order so it takes quite a while for the coffee to be ready. The coffee is thicker than typical coffee, but I would say that it isn't as thick as Turkish coffee. Well worth it, and was the perfect pick me up that we needed for our night. I want to be able to cook all of these things in my home. I want to try everything on the menu. I want to eat this always. read more

I think Keren is the best Ethiopian food in DC, even though it's technically Eritrean food but that's a subtle difference that most of us won't know. Including myself, but lucky for me one of my besties is Eritrean. Needless to say, when I go here with her we get all the perks. FOOD: - Beef/Lamb Tibsi and Veggie platter are go-to's here for a table of 2-4. It never disappoints - true comfort food. Flavors at Keren are way more bold than other Ethiopian joints in the area and I think way more authentic. That should not deter the timid stomachs - the food is delicious and (I think) pleasing to any palates. Ethiopian food is really not that far of a departure from a typical American cuisine. It's essentially just marinated red meat, slow roasted over carbs with sides of veggies. If you can't get down with that, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Breakfast at Keren is also pretty good, for those who are inclined to savory breakfasts. Everything is also super affordable and service is great. In conclusion, go to Keren now because you will always regret it. read more

Keren is Eritrean, you know what I'm saying? Oh, you don't? Alright, well let me tell you how these things work. Set aside food biases (yes, we all have them) and be bolder with your tastes! One of the great advantages of living in or visiting the great capital of the United States is its seemingly endless influx of cultural heritage. The melting pot, indeed. If you find your way to Keren, you are essentially entering into a new dialect of food terminology. The dishes are heavily influenced by Ethiopian style, but rely heavily on hearty protein sources like eggs and beans. There's the customizable features of spice and bread types. Go for the ful or some shared side dishes that you can't pronounce. And above all, order the coffee. This is not some backroom coffee pot reheated every hour; it's genuine, dark, and authentically roasted. Finally, a note on your hosts. These people are amazing, friendly, and generous - to the point us cold-blooded capitalists fear for their survival. The owners and employees of Keren operate with a giving and understanding spirit. I heard from one source that he has yet to pay full price for a meal at Keren - not because of any mistake on the bill but rather, because of the owner's admirable generosity. The truth is, we would live in a better country if the suits down the road learned a lesson from their Eritrean neighbors. read more

Great food, loved the fish Keren special I had ordered! The staff were attentive even though I was alone and they refilled my water many times. Quite a busy place but great food and great service so I will definitely be back when I'm in DC again read more

Keren is an absolute DC staple. Cheap, delicious and quick. The service is always super attentive and the food is never dissappointing. Be prepared for long waits most evenings! read more

This has to be one of the best deals in town. You can feed two people for less than $12, and still feel like you "went out to dinner." Don't get me wrong, this isn't a fancy ambiance. It's undressed tables and chairs, and small bar, but don't let that fool you, the food is excellant. This is an Eritrean restaurant (very similar to Ethiopian), and I would suggest sharing a Tbsi Special, which is big enough for two people. We always order the "spicy," which comes with a spicy beef and onion spread, salad, either greens or cabbage (always a surprise of which one you get) and lentils, all on top of injera bread. You also both get a side of injera to scoop up all the delicious goodness. Plus, the staff is super nice, and really efficient. You'll get your food without much of a wait, and your water glass will never be empty. If it is, don't worry, you can get the waitress's attention at any time. read more

This place is pretty cool and the service rocks! It's a stone's throw from my house but I never imagined they'd be owned by Eritreans since there are so many Ethiopian restaurants in the U-street area. My Eritrean friends tell me that Eritrean food and Ethiopean food are pretty similar due to the shared history of both countries. There are slight differences maybe in the taste since Eritrean was once colonized by Italy and thus use a lot of tomato-based sauce in their cooking. Apparently the dish to get their is the fuul for breakfast and the Eritrean spiced tea. Both are really good and extremely filling! If you like a place that serves inexpensive food, great service and friendly atmosphere, look no further! read more

10 points if you know exactly where Eritrea is without looking. I guessed Keren might be the name of the owner's girlfriend, a local War Lord's summer palace (in the Hamptons) or the second largest city in Eritrea. The whole country snuggles up against Ethiopia like they was spooning, so the cuisine is very similar. So, does that help? This place was someone else's pick. I am flexible but I was skepticaI. I figured by noon I would feel like Sir Richard Frances Burton searching for the source of the bile. I thought Eritrean food consisted of packages from the W.H.O. or perhaps I'd be served three caraway seeds and a tire mallet. Was I wrong. This not a Biafran Buffet where all you get is an after dinner mint...and no dinner. The cooking here is unusual and deliciously complex. It's as if Eritrea and Ethiopia were conjoined twins and Eritrea got separated and dragged out to sea. The Red Sea that is which runs along its entire length, hence the appearance of fish on the menu. After eating here, Keren's will be my pick. This place is a functional, re-purposed coffee shop in a quiet hood where displaced Eritrean and Californian immigrants can feel like they are dining with family and eat like Haile Selassie. The Silsi with Kuanta was a perfect breakfast for a crisp fall morning. Torn Injera (a spongy sour dough bread) mixed with Onion, Tomato Sauce and piled high with pieces of Spicy Jerky. Top that with a fried runny yolk egg on request (okay, the dude brought a scrambled egg after I bugged him twice, but it was a soft creamy scramble so, you know, no complaints.) It was a huge portion and oh so tasty. Think African Chiliquilies. I could have drizzled some Crema, chopped raw Spanish Onions and Cilantro, and washed it down with a Michealada or stayed home and gone to Taco Mesa in Santa Ana but then I would have missed this way cool stuff which was dandy served up as is. The Ful (Fava Beans, Spinach, Red Lentils, Fresh Salad and Spiced Braised Tender Meat...."Y'all don't need no teeth to eat my beef" says the chef at Keren...and while it isn't polite to talk with your mouth full of Ful I have to say he ain't just whistlin' Hava Nagila....this was seriously good and totally tender. It arrives on a round of Injera as big as a throw rug with mounds of all the aforementioned goodies strategically placed around the doughy disk. Tear off a piece and scoop up this and that with your paw (right hand please). Then lean back and sip some home brewed Ethiopian Coffee, so strong I missed 2 days worth of napping. This dish was completely composed as each pile on the platter was uniquely spiced and reminded me of eating cooling lava. (Okay, I never really ever ate cooling lava and don't go and get me wrong. This was not molecular acid hot enough to drip through the sub floor. The spices were layered, interesting, with a soft crawling heat to please any palate and as warm as a morning cuddle. I may never get a Visa to visit Eritrea but when I'm in DC I'm gonna take my Visa Card to Keren's and stuff myself so that they can sell me at F.A.O Schwarz. read more

My first Ethiopian cuisine experience was made perfect by Keren Restaurant. Everything from the tastiness of food, warmness of staff, coziness of the atmosphere and the unbeatable price made for a flawless experience of this delicious cuisine. We were first timers to the Ethiopian cuisine so we sought for recommendation from the waitress. She recommended to us the tibsi (with we took with chicken) and fuul (a breakfast dish). We only waited a short time until our food came, the tibsi is served on a large plate on top of injera bread, with a bowl of chicken (or other protein of your choice) cooked with diced tomato and onions, surrounded by a sides of steamed spinach, mixed salad, and warm split peas. Each of our individual injera bread came in a wrapped towel shape. We were a little dumbfounded by the lack of utensils and wasn't sure what to do with the porous injera bread. Seeing our confusion, the waitress went back to the kitchen and returned with her own plate of injera (torn into small pieces) and showed us how to use it to eat the delicious tibsi in front of us. After we semi-mastered our bread utensil, we eagerly dug into the dish. Gosh, the food was so delicious. The chicken was cooked to a moderate strength while still retaining its juicy and tenderness, combined with the flavors of onion and tomato, along with the different spices that goes into the sauce. It provides a kind of ultra comfort food with plentiful of flavor. The beans were equally as savory. The split peas is cooked to complete mushed tenderness, the warmth and slightly citrusy flavor made for extraordinary flavor. The mixed salad was crunchy and fresh, delicious light dressing. And the spinach is also cooked to perfect softness with minimal seasoning. The fuul bowl I took with one egg on top is also amazing. The same warm and comfortingly savory split peas makes its presence, with some freshly seasoned and diced tomato, even the kick from raw onions (which I usually stay away from) is great mixed with the rest of the dishes. I also sprinkled some hot pepper in there and with one bite, the warm split peas, fluffy eggs, savory tomato and a kick of spice from onions combines into a heavenly taste. We managed to polish off both plates because it was so yummy but we were so full by the end. The tibsi alone is definitely more than enough to feed the both of us. I can't say enough about the deliciousness of the food and I can't say enough about the warmness of the staff. Since we were first timers, the chef lady asked us if we liked it and she would whip up something else if we did not. Besides kindly showing us how to use injera bread to eat tibsi, the wait staff were very sincere, warm and patient from beginning to end. That wasn't necessary since we LOVED the food so much but she was very nice to offer. During our meal, numerous familiar clients came in and the atmosphere buzzed, they were all shaking hands and hugging, though we were outsiders, the coziness and warmness of the hosts and clients alike really made an impression on us. In my book, this is really as good as a restaurant experience can get. Perfection in every way. read more

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I was so impressed by Keren! After reading about how busy they get for the dinner rush, I placed a takeout order which took 30 minutes to prepare, just enough time for me to go on a walk and end at the restaurant. When I arrived at 6:45pm, the place was packed and there was a line out the door. I was impressed but also made a note to stick to takeout for future meals. I ordered the Keren special with spicy chicken. The injera was delicious as were the lentils, chickpeas, and collard greens options! I was a huge fan. The chicken was not too spicy (as I was told on the phone) but just the right amount for the person who typically orders "mild-medium spicy" options. It was super oily though which did not sit very well in my stomach. For my takeout order, they gave me 3 huge pieces of injera, 4 vegetable stews/spreads, a side of lightly dressed greens with tomatoes, and the chicken bits on the side. I stuffed myself the first night and still had enough leftover for two lunches. All for $15! Definitely great value! As a side note, if you are getting takeout, be cautious of how you carry the bag. Their takeout containers are not fully seal-able resulting in a liquidy mess in the plastic bag during my walk home. This was totally my fault as I was carrying the bag from the handles, but hopefully this note saves someone in the future! read more

KEREN's under new management - it felt a bit strange getting my Ful this morning and not seeing Bereket there smiling in the kitchen - he's been a fixture in the place since I was a kid. And I do feel guilty admitting this, but the food's better than ever read more

Keren Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

One of my reliable favorites for really tasty food. There are plenty of vegan and non vegan options so it's great if you're looking for somewhere that can cater to both. The veggie combo is solid - many different, delicious flavors and usually enough for some leftovers! The reason this falls short of 5 stars is that because it's a popular restaurant and there's usually a long line, they can sometimes try to "rush" you out once it seems like you're done eating. Also, I will say I've noticed the size of the portions has gone down a bit/ can be quite inconsistent, and the injera is often a little cold. Overall though, still a favorite! read more

A very popular restaurant with somewhat crowded space and tiny seats. Main theme is actually Eritrean, with some Ethiopian dishes and drinks (you don't want to confuse these two countries!). Very friendly staff, good service, although lack of reservation system and number-calling system when waiting for table could create some long waiting line and confusion when assigning tables. Me and my friend had an Ethiopian beer (St George's Beer) each and shared a Keren special---vegetable and sauce combos, coming with thin grey bread and chicken (beef also available). The beer was quite rich and malty despite being a lager with 4.7% ABV. The Keren special was cooked beautifully, all elements and the chicken seasoned well. I particularly loved the steamed potatoes in yellow sauce and the chicken with spices. The grey bread tasted quite sour if eaten without any attachment, but it went quite well with all the veggies and sauces. This is a good place to experience some food diversity, if you don't mind the relatively long wait during dining hours. read more

Keren Restaurant - Ethiopian beer. - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia