I ate here a few weekends ago with my boyfriend. I've eaten Ethiopian food a handful of times, but wanted 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. read more

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

Excellent Ethiopian spot! All the staff are super kind, and all the tibs have such good flavor. 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! read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat Lover Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

An absolute must try!!! Spent a night with friends and enjoyed the sampler platter. Everything was delicious! 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! read more

I have been to a few Ethiopian restaurants and Letena is one of the best in terms of quality and quantity. This is a relatively large Ethiopian restaurant. Very spacious. Decoration is good but not over the top. I do wish they offer some seatings that are more intimate. In terms of beer and wine, I really like the Ethiopian larger. Could use a few more choices though. Same goes for wine. All in all, would recommend on a heart beat to others. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I really enjoy getting takeout from Letena! Everyone here is so friendly, and orders are ready promptly and accurate. They have a good level of spice in the dishes, and they give the right amount of injera for me. The price can be a little higher than some other places, but I generally get three meals out of one order, so I think it's good value overall. I've never dined in, so I can't speak to that experience, but there's plenty of seating and it seems like it would be a good place to go with a group. We're lucky to have so much good Ethiopian food in the area, and I really enjoy Letena's platters! read more

Great vegetarian fare, recommend the sampler platter. Service was prompt and friendly. Nice atmosphere and decor. Easy walk from Metro.

Probably my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the entire United States as of now, especially because this place has amazing food, excellent service, and a totally gathering-friendly atmosphere and pure cleanliness. I cannot find a single factor that I wanted tp provide constructive comments about. My entire experience was extremely positive. I really loved the fact that they had a meat sampler that allowed me to have a bit of everything, so I got that, and managed to have a combination of kay siga (beef stew in spicy berbere sauce), goat wot (braised goat stew), gomen bèsiga (seasoned collard greens cookied with beef), mushroom dulet, and timatim salad, all placed on a gigantic piece of injera ready to be feasted! And then of course, the classic doro wot (chicken stew) and alicha siga wot (beef stew in mild curry sauce) are just plain hits, really tasty. The kik wot added a very nice plain flavor that would lower the spice level of both the alicha siga wot and the lamb. Together with some injera, it was simply perfection. I also have never come across the kategna before! Toasted injera coated with berbere and seasoned butter! I have never had injera cooked that way because it was almost like the Ethiopian equivalent of our rice: never eaten alone. But man, it tasted amazing! I would really commend everything! Absolutely amazing food! read more

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Good Ethiopian take out (via Uber eats). 3.75 stars. The first time, I ordered the 3 meat combo, which included the spicy beef stew, greens and beef, and lamb. It was supposed to come with a veggie stew side, but unfortunately it wasn't included in the order so I can't speak to it (Uber eats made it right). I was able to order teff injeera - which is gluten free - for additional charge (so I have to deduct half star for the fee). I'd be careful for anyone who's celiac since they also included non-GF injeera. The second time, I ordered for 4 people including: veg combo, kitfo, and spicy beef. We also ordered 2 teff injeera. Everything tasted good. However, the amount of regular injeera (3) was too small for the amount of food we ordered! We I liked the packaging of the food more than most places, as it can be reheated in the container it arrived in. Generous portions and plenty of meat. Concerned that it's unclear whether the injeera under the stews are GF or not. Based on my experiences, this wouldn't be my first go to Ethiopian spot, but it's still a solid option available for delivery. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Sampler for 2, Kitfo, spicy beef, and only 3 Injera?! - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I brought my parents here for their first ever experience eating Ethiopian food, and they loved it! We came on a Sunday for an early dinner and so we didn't need a reservation, but since it wasn't huge inside, I'd recommend one if you came at a more popular time. The decor inside is very lovely, really set a nice vibe. The servers were very quick, helpful in answering questions, and very friendly. We started with an order of the samosas, which were very good! Nice crunchy wrapping and flavorful lentils inside. A great way to wake up your palate. Based on the server's recommendation for portion size, we ordered two sampler platters for the three of us to split: one vegetable (yemsir wot, kid gomen, tomatoes) and one meat (dorowot, alicha siga, gomen besiga). They served them on one large platter so we could all eat it family-style, which is one of my fav things about Ethiopian food. The injera was great and they refilled it midway through the meal so we didn't run out. I'll be honest that I never know which dish is what on the sampler, but everything was delicious, both vegetable and meat! Everything was so flavorful and well-spiced without being spicy (because we're not very spice-tolerant people). The meat was tender and the portions of everything were great! Two people could also do it, but we (three) polished off both samplers and were satisfied afterwards. The prices are also very reasonable for a meal, so I'd definitely come back to try more things on the menu. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Samplers (vegetarian 1 and meat 1) - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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So happy this place is within walking distance to me. I love coming here when I am craving Ethiopian. The interior is slightly more done up than a couple other Ethiopian restaurants that I have been to which is nice depending on what your preference is! The food is as delicious as the other Ethiopian places we have been to - but slightly more expensive for what you get. I was surprised at the portion size of the lamb that we ordered - I was expecting it to be a little bit more considering the price. But everything is always so delicious. The service is also good and the food comes out very quickly usually. Their gin fizz cocktail was also very yummy! read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie sampler with lamb in the middle - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really solid Ethiopian food! I really appreciate that you're able to customize the meat and vegetarian samplers, and it was a good way to try a lot of different dishes on the menu. Ambiance was pleasant as well. Service could've been a bit more attentive, as we had to flag down our waitress several times, but that was a minor thing. read more

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SO GOOD! This Ethiopian food absolutely hit the spot. Tender meat, delicious vegetables, scrumptious injera. YES! Incredible service too. Everyone was so kind! I had a great experience. I'll be back! read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetable Sampler for 1 - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We visited Letena Restaurant as a family, and it was not our first time and truly, it is always marvelous! The service, the meal, and everything about the place make us so happy every time we come back. Highly recommended! read more

Staff was excellent and extremely helpful Food was great. Drinks were good Great location off metro read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and vegetable sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Got food poisoning from Letena Ethiopian Kay Wot on October 16. I will never go back.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city and some of the best Ethiopian food I've ever had! The staff is super friendly and very accommodating and happy to explain anything you have questions about. Love the signature tibs, pretty much all of the veggie and vegan dishes, and of course the lentil samosas. I recommend going with friends so you can try a little bit of everything!! read more

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

Excellent food. First time trying Ethiopian food. Meat sampler platter was great introduction. Great ambiance. Amazing service. Highly recommend read more

We had an amazing time celebrating a birthday. Beyond the obviously delicious food the hospitality was amazing.

I recently went to Letena after not having gone for several years. I had remembered the food being overpriced and OK from my previous experience. I ordered the Yebeg Leba Tibs to go and for $19.50, I expect a larger portion size. The dish itself was fantastic, extremely spicy as I requested, with tender lamb chunks. If Letena were cheaper, I would order from there at least once every 2-3 months. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Yebeg Leba Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I was waiting for my son and I saw this restaurant. I looked it up in Yelp the ratings looked good but I was still skeptical. I used to go the Meskarem in Adams Morgan back in the 80's/90's and haven't found a place I like as much. Well. I found it. It's absolutely delicious. More expensive than it should be for one meal but it's well seasoned and tasty. I live far away but would travel for this place. Well done. read more

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I was so excited to get takeout from Letena which I've enjoyed so much in recent years. The veggie platter with one of the tibs added seemed to have shrunk and was so poorly packed that when it arrived all the dishes were smooshed together on one side of the platter. It was pretty unappealing. The actual dishes themselves were fine but not as well balanced and punchy as I recall them being. We ate almost all the food in one sitting which I'm certain we couldn't do years before. Unfortunately I don't think we will be returning, when there are so many excellent spots nearby. read more

I don't know what it is about the month of January that always leads me to try the best restaurants to ever exist purely by luck, but at least for the remainder of this year, I think it's safe to say that Letena is my new favorite restaurant in DC. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the stunning dining area, which was decorated to perfection, with curated artwork and warm lighting for an intimate feel. Our server was professional and knowledgeable about the food and even gave us recommendations. I ordered the asa tibs, which are fried tilapia with jalapeños, rosemary, and bell peppers. It came with yemisir wot, which is a thick, flavorful red lentil stew that perfectly complemented the crisp asa tibs. One friend ordered the kitfo, a spiced minced beef dish that can be served raw or lightly cooked. It came with house made cottage cheese to balance out the spice and sautéed collard greens. My other friend ordered the Kik Wot, a creamy stew of split yellow peas that reminded me of daal without the overpowering spices, and the beet and potato salad, which was light and refreshing- a perfect addition to some of the heavy dishes on the menu. The injera deserves its own paragraph so I'll start by saying this was the best injera I've tasted so far and other injera will have to pull out all the tricks to wow me because the bar is mad high right now. I especially loved how Letena served it separately from the other dishes, which allowed it to retain its airy, pillowy texture instead of becoming soggy mush after acting merely as a vehicle for serving stews and other toppings, which is how injera is served at other Ethiopian places. In fact, the injera here was so good I was inspired to learn how to make it myself so that I can have an unlimited supply whenever I crave it Overall, each of the dishes we ordered tasted fresh and as nourishing as a home cooked meal. I wasn't ready to be blown away by Letena on a random weekday in January, so if you haven't been here yet, here's your warning that this place is likely to become your next obsession. read more

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Great food and service! We got the veggie sampler for 2 people and the portion was super generous. All of the food was delicious and they also gave us plenty of injeera. The restaurant was also really cute on the inside. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Sampler for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I can't believe there are so many great Ethiopian restaurants in the DC area. This is one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Traditionally other Ethiopian restaurants serve wots and veggies on the Injira but here they serve the wots on small cups. We tried their meat sampler which comes with 4 set options of meat (3 beef and one chicken) and 2 veggie options. Since the chicken dish did not have the boiled egg, I asked the server if she could give me the egg. She was very kind to bring another bowl of wot with egg in it. Everything tasted delicious! It's not too spicy. The pictures might make it look like their wots could be spicy but trust me it's not. They also gave us extra Injira which was very kind of them. Really enjoyed our dinner here. The service was phenomenal. Pricing is very nominal. $20 for meat sampler for 2 people is worth it. Definitely recommend this place if your looking out for Ethiopian restaurants in the DC area. There is free parking after 6:30 pm in the neighborhood. Look out for parking spots in front of some row house there. read more

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This family owned business is so lovely. The service was personal and welcoming and the food was authentic and delicious. We ordered the meat and vegetarian samplers and enjoyed every bite. read more

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I'm not sure what was more enjoyable, the distinct flavors found in the food, or the warm, attentive care that was given to us tourists as our group of 6 wandered in. We were greeted with kindness by a fabulous staff, and explanations were made as we introduced our children to some amazing fare. Thank you once again for such an amazing time at your fine establishment. read more

We have been regulars to Chercher but this time decided to try Letena. Very good ambiance. Dula was amazing. Helped us to choose from the menu so that we good try out everything. The food was good and our little one loved the injira. Service was prompt. For dessert, we had tiramisu. We will definitely return. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Sampler for 2 Doro Wot Injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

As compared to the ubiquitous Ethiopian restaurants that have long clustered around hot spots around U street, H street, and Silver Spring, this one is more expensive, but also nicer. It's close to the Columbia Heights metro on the side of a big shopping center, and they have a spectacular and clean-looking space. I've been to Ethiopian places where I only ever saw one person working there, but they had several active front-of-restaurant staff. And the menu was solid as well. They clearly mark what's vegetarian and vegan, and like most Ethiopian places, they offer a veggie combo. Unusually, they give you a choice of four stews but also two salads, which results in a healthy but filling meal. Of the options I sampled, the winner by far was their yemisir wot, a hearty and spicy lentil dish that really is one of the best lentil preparations I can recall eating. On the other end of the spectrum, I tried one of their few non-vegan offerings, mushrooms sautéed with jalapeños. And it did indeed taste of butter, and compared to the fresh flavors of the other dishes, it tasted out of place. I ate it, but was not a fan. I guess they're trying to convince people to go vegan, unintentionally. Of course, with any sampler platter you expect ups and downs, and at the end I was happy. Their way of doing things is to serve all the various food items in small dishes and give you injera (a spongy flatbread) on the side, which is less messy than the way that most restaurants do it (pouring all the dishes on to one giant flatbread for you), but I'm not sure I prefer it. I also wish they had a few more menu options like sambusas or something. But the food quality and overall experience was excellent, and I think the place adds great variety to the neighborhood. read more

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

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Update: this is still my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in DC, and the one I take any out of towners to (including Ethiopians) who want Ethiopian food. The food simply tastes fresher and of higher quality than other Ethiopian places around town. I know that Zenebech gets a lot of hype, but I think the food is tastier, more imaginative, and fresher at Letena (which means for your health). I often get it for takeout. The Signature Tibs are the BOMB. Soft and full of flavor, and not spicy unless you ask. The veggie combo is excellent, too - broccoli, chickpeas, Red lentils mmmmm, and mushrooms (where do they do mushrooms at an Ethiopian restaurant?). So it's good for vegetarians. The Shiro (chickpea stew) is also excellent, and has a mild spice. Again, they don't add tons of hot pepper unless you ask, because the food has a good taste on its own. I only wish that 1) they were open for coffee in the morning, since they have a top of the line La Marzocco espresso machine and serve Counter Culture coffee, unlike the nearby cafes, and 2) they would give at least part of the restaurant a more date-night atmosphere (with table service, etc). But otherwise it's great. read more

Wow, wow, wow - Columbia Heights delivers yet again! Dined at Letena for a date night, and we were both blown away by the quality of this Ethiopian restaurant. We split an order of Lentil Samosas as an appetizer and ordered the Vegetarian Sampler for 2 as our main dish. In my opinion, the samosa appetizer was a bit small for two people to share (and seemed expensive for the quantity of food received), but was tasty nonetheless. The Veg sampler for 2 was absolutely divine, and contained some of the most delicious Ethiopian food I've ever tasted. I was particularly fond of the yemisir wot (red spicy lentils), mushroom tibs, and kik wot (yellow split peas). All of the vegetarian dishes were so fresh and flavorful. Also, the Veg Sampler for 2 could probably feed 3 people. We left the restaurant completely stuffed and toting a bag of leftovers. Overall, Letena is an excellent restaurant and a must-visit if in the Columbia Heights area of DC. I can't wait to dine here again. read more

Quick tip: They do NOT validate for the parking garage below - I don't quite understand this. I do like how their default food presentation has the injera on the side (as opposed to underneath the food). Allows for creative self-serve bites. Unfortunately, all of the food I ate was pretty one-dimensional. The Vegi Sampler For One ($16.50) I ordered included disappointingly small (about 2 oz.) portions of Kit Wot, which was served lukewarm and nothing special, Yemisir Wot, which was also lukewarm and boring tasting, Cabbage, which was room temperature and totally "meh", and a cold side salad (as expected). None of these vegi items I received seemed freshly prepared. They all tasted and looked to have come from a pre-prepared back-of-house buffet of sorts. That would explain their lack of decent temperature. The Chef's Signature Tibs ($16.50) were actually recommended by the server, and came out as a shallow bowl of tough, way-overcooked gray sirloin bits in chili oil. Yuck - any meat eater would agree that these Signature Tibs were terrible! Fortunately, the Signature Tibs came with an additional side - I chose the Beet And Potato Salad) - which ended up being the most edible thing at the table. Still not great, but edible. Funny, when both the server and the manager came by to ask "How is it?" I couldn't help but be completely honest and said, "It's okay..." Both responded, "Just okay?", chuckled, and didn't bother to ask why I thought it was just okay. I was surprised by their overconfidence in their cooking. They didn't care that I didn't like any of the food they brought out. Worst $40 I've spent on a snack meal all summer. Shocked by the glowing reviews. Definitely go somewhere else. Plus one star for a nice restaurant build-out, and nice bathrooms. read more

There are SO many Ethiopian restaurant in DC, but Letena is my favorite. What sets them apart is the quality of the food; the ingredients are fresh and the stews and various bean dishes are never oily. The Letena salad (brocoli and avocado with an interesting dressing) is unexpected and delicious. Whenever I've been in (pre-covid and now) the employees and owner have been really friendly. read more

Delicious new Ethiopian food in Columbia heights! I love how the prices are very reasonable, and the large/sampler platters can be shared by two people. Instead of the food being served on injera (bread), the food is served on plates with injera to the side. They served the injera very sparingly, but we were able to ask for more at no charge. This is definitely unique from other Ethiopian restaurants in the area in that it's more of a fast casual place where you order from a register. I recommend getting Ethiopian coffee to end your meal! The service was great too and the servers always checked on us. The interior is very relaxing and I love the orange wall! Overall had a great experience and it seems like they have good brunch deals, so hope to come back. read more

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat platter...so good! - Ethiopian Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Solid Ethiopian food in Columbia Heights just a block from the Metro. There are other places in the neighborhood a little further so this is just as conveniently located as they come. This is not a traditional table service place - you order at the cash register and take a number for your table. There are soft drinks, but the general idea is for this to be a more "fast casual" style than your typical sit-down Ethiopian restaurant. Also different than your typical Ethiopian restaurant, food comes in bowls and plates instead of directly on trays of injera (that spongy and delicious Ethiopian bread). This is good for anyone with a gluten problem, as while injera is made with Teff, most places use wheat flour as a filler. That said, the food is very nice. Doesn't blow you away but is very very solid. I had the traditional Doro Wat, a chicken stew, which was nice and spicy! We also tried the vegetarian sampler, which lets you try 4 hot dishes and 2 cold salads. All of them were decent but the Kik (a split pea curry) and Shiro Wat (a mashed chickpea stew) were very tasty. Come on down, it's delicious and quick food at a real nice price! read more

We had heard that DC had really good Ethiopian food and scoped out Letena to try. The atmosphere was beautiful, they did a very good job decorating and were able to accommodate our party of six easily. The drinks were very good, Ouzotini was delicious. Lemonade was homemade and Ethiopian iced tea was amazing. Definitely try. We did a veg and a meat sampler and it was so delicious. The wait staff were very nice and patient. read more

We got in and it was DARK. Seriously, it's way too dark for a restaurant! It would be nice if they had some tea lights on the table or something. Anyway, I ordered the only goat item on the menu as I was feeling adventurous. The server came back and told me they were out. So, I settled for the lamb tibs. My hubby ordered the veggie sampler. The flavors were great. And the broccoli avocado sampler was the most unique and definitely one to try. I would've given this restaurant a 5 star, but I've had better - experience and better food at another Ethiopian restaurant. But, I wouldn't mind coming back here again for sure - just maybe, during the day!! read more

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One of my absolute favorite Ethiopian restaurants in DC. Amazing ambiance and delicious food, the vegan/veggie sampler is the perfect mix of my favorite dishes. The service here is phenomenal, they always make me feel like family! read more

A solid Ethiopian restaurant, with tasty food, nice decor, pleasant wait staff, great location. I have lived in Ethiopia for for years, and always enjoy finding a good place for njera and all the accompaniments. On a recent visit, I tried the vegetarian, "fasting" plate, where I could choose up to four options. No Ethiopian milk is complete with out shero, The lentilbased sauce. I added some yellow lentils, as well as spinach. They give you extra bread if you so desire. All of it was delicious. The walls include some nice Ethiopian art. I wish they didn't have TVs on but... I look forward to coming back with the group so we can try some of their other food. read more

Had dinner here last night for the second time and will definitely return. All five of us loved the food and the atmosphere. The decor is lovely and it's possible to have a conversation without yelling. The veggie sampler #2 was terrific and generous. We also like the Doro Wat and two Tibs dishes. I recommend the St. George's lager if you are a beer drinker. Definitely check it out - the best Ethiopian I've ever had in D.C. read more

We were at first charmed by Letena. The decor shows the care of the proprietors and we were welcomed pleasantly. After ordering the vegetarian platter for two, we began a very long wait, during which our server came repeatedly to apologize. We were puzzled as the restaurant is small and there were a few empty tables, but then we noticed a constant stream of drivers/motorcyclists coming to pick up take-out orders, which I think must generate most of their revenue, and may be their priority. When the food finally came, the vegetables that were supposed to be hot were lukewarm, in fact barely above room temperature. We surmised that the platter must have sat while one of its components was cooked. It also wasn't all that good. read more