Great food & customer service. Also very nice restaurant with beautiful artwork!…read more Will return!

Want some home cooked Ethiopian fare, served by and made by! a lovely lady...say no more, make a…read morestop at the Tensu Market. Ordered the Awaze Tibs (Spicy) $14.99 One word - Fantastic! Large serving, amazing flavors (heat, earth, spice) springy serving bread, perfectly cooked beef and tomato and jalapenos! Ever bite was excellent and a little different. Stop by this shop and try some of the ingredients of Ethiopian....stop by again and pick up some of the supplies to start to make it on your own.

This is an interesting restaurant because it serves both Ethiopian food and Central American food…read more When you enter the restaurant, you immediately sense that food is the focus here, not the décor or ambience. Latin music was blasting, and later the TV switched to a soccer game, all in Spanish. We tried a 4-dish combo and a fish dish, all very good - tasty, complex flavors. We also enjoyed the bread (injera, like sourdough bread in flavor) and the rice that comes with the dishes. This is my first time trying Ethiopian food. It reminds me of Indian food with the uses of lots of similar spices and the complex stew dishes. Our server was nice and checked on us frequently. I also got to practice my Duolingo Spanish with him--most of it was lost in translation. It was a fun experience. The fish dish was my favorite.

Delicious Ethiopian food. I've been here a few times. Service is good; staff is friendly. The woman…read moretaking orders will help you order if you ask. Ordered the beef kaey, beef tibbs, red lentils (favorite), and split peas over the phone. It was ~$5 more to order online through their website, so I called to place an order-- these hidden convenience fees, man, I'm not about it. Beef kaey- slow simmered all day type vibe. Beef is tender and seasoning is delicious. Savory saucy. Beef tibbs- sautéed with onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños. I got awaze and it's a Smokey spicy sauce that comes on the side. I didn't end up using it. I asked for it spicy - had the slightest kick. Split peas- mild flavor in comparison to both beef. You can taste the garlic and ginger. This wasn't my favorite but it was good in between bites of beef to change up the taste and texture. Peas weren't hard but also not mushy- Red lentils miser watt- I love the lentils here. Super flavorful. Savory and spice forward. Ambiance is casual. They also sell Ethiopian grocery items, like peas etc. The menu hasn't been changed and prices have not gone up.

Came with two other people Wednesday evening and ordered the Sambusa Lentils as an appetizer,…read morefollowed by Large Vegetarian Sampler and Awaze tips. The Sambusa (triangle pastry) was very good. Filled with lentils with a little spicy kick. Accompanied with a diced hot pepper relish, which was very good. We enjoyed the Awaze tips, beef tips sautéed in a spicy sauce. The vegetarian platter also was good. A couple of the items were less impressive than the others (I really liked the greens and green beans), but overall a solid platter. Plenty to eat for the three of us - we couldn't finish everything. The injera bread was legit. And we were served a good serving of them with our platter. We were there the evening before Thanksgiving, and there were no other eat-in customers. While we were there, two take-out orders were picked up. The restaurant is a bit dark. Decent music playing through the sound system - not too loud.

Lamb Tibs and Kitfo are delicious. Very kind folks offering food. Very big portions and dishes are…read moremade fresh to order. We get this everytime our friends are in town! Very chill vibes and table service is prompt.

I am not Ethiopian but I have visited this restaurant a few times and have heard and been…read morerecommended this restaurant by other Ethiopians who say that the food here is good & it is! I always have a great experience here and enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant with the big screens to watch sports. This is where I tried tere siga (raw meat) for the first time and had a pleasant experience that I can now say I know how to eat it. I have had their tere siga, goden tibs, kitfo, asa goulash, and regular tibs. All very flavorful and items I would come back to order again. Their coffee is also great and poured out of a jebena like how it is traditionally and should be made. The customers that love this restaurant will not normally go out of their way to write a review, but seeing some of the negative reviews I needed to post one of my own.

Worst service I've ever experienced at JD Restaurant. The owner, "Communist," is rude,…read moreunprofessional, and unable to take customer feedback without cursing or telling people not to come back. They also serve customers based on personal connections rather than fairness. I will never recommend this place.

One of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants in the area. The food is always really tasty, and the…read morestaff is nice and friendly. I typically get a vegetarian combo and it always tastes delicious. On one visit, the owner stopped by our table and explained how Ethiopian food is typically eaten, which was such a thoughtful touch and really nice to learn. Overall, it's a great spot and one I'm always happy to come back to.

Promising First Visit, Let Down the Second Time - Wish There is a Negative Rating…read moreDec 2025 * Friends I wish there was negative rating!!! This was my second visit to Enat Kitfo, and unfortunately, it was completely different from my first -- in a very disappointing way. The first time, I happened to be in the neighborhood and searched for an Ethiopian restaurant nearby. I decided to try Enat Kitfo because it was nearby, and I was genuinely impressed. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the server was kind and attentive. The owner even came to greet me, checked on my dish while I was eating, and made me feel welcomed. It was such a positive experience that I shared it with others and looked forward to coming back with my family. Because of that great first impression, I drove more than an hour for my second visit, this time with a friend who had just arrived from back home. We came around 6:00 PM, during the Eagles vs. Lions game in the 4th quarter -- it should have been a great evening. Unfortunately, the experience could not have been more different. The waitress was kind but inexperienced and had to ask the owner about everything. When the owner came out, he appeared unwelcoming and dismissive, which was surprising given how well he treated me during my first visit. As an Ethiopian who has lived in the Washington, DC area for a long time, this interaction reminded me of the old Ethiopian restaurant culture of the 1980s and 1990s, when Ethiopian customers were often treated poorly, while customers from other countries were treated as masters -- even though Ethiopia has never been colonized. Thankfully, competition have improved customer service standards over the years, which made this experience especially disappointing. We ordered Cotlet (fish) and Tsom Beyaynetu aka Veggie (Combo). The Cotlet (fish) was delicious, well prepared and enjoyable. However, it arrived without the combo. We waited, assuming the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) would follow, but no one checked on us. I eventually went to the bar to ask about it. The owner's response was simply "" (okay), with no concern or apology. When the combo finally arrived, it was delivered as if nothing had gone wrong. While the fish was very good, the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) -- which I had truly enjoyed during my first visit -- lacked flavor this time. There were many items on the plate, but none stood out as good. No one came back to check on us, and even ordering drinks required me to go to the bar myself. Overall, the service was extremely poor, worse than many Ethiopian restaurants from decades ago. With so many good Ethiopian dining options available today, I will not be returning. I truly want Ethiopian-owned businesses to succeed and flourish. However, I am accustomed to the American service standard and vote with my wallet. I do not accept neglect or disrespect as a customer. I hope this feedback is taken constructively so future customers are treated better and the business can improve. I wish Enat Kitfo the best, but without meaningful changes in service and consistency, it will be difficult to succeed in today's competitive environment.

Decided to come to Ikon and try out their food with a friend, after hearing they had good Ethiopian…read morefood. They also are a hookah lounge if anyone is interested in that as well. The Food: After browsing their small food menu, my friend and I shared a platter. We went with the "Veggie Combo" and the "Awaze Tibs". The flavor and seasoning on both the veggies and meats were absolutely delicious! The veggies were cooked well and the meats were tender and juicy. Pairing all of that with some Injera absolutely hit the spot. The Service: Service was great! The staff here were very friendly and attentive. I didn't use the Hookah, but they were very attentive with checking up on my friend to see if everything was good with her. Overall, a very good experience. The Atmosphere: The space is a little plain as of now, but from what I understand they recently just opened. The overall decor could be better, as it is kind of dark with minimal lighting. But not a bad spot if you are there for the food and lounge. Overall, a 4/5. Food was delicious and from what I've heard from my friend, the drinks and hookah were great as well. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area!

A small hookah bar in a plaza. Very dark with a warm ambiance and a small bar…read more Ordered to go, and felt that while it was freshly cooked to order, it did not come with the salad and sauce that would've made this dish better. Also did not see a single jalapeño slice in this dish.

Cannot even describe how obsessed we are with Bole Bole. The food is EXCELLENT! We tried another…read moreEthiopian around the corner & came running back to this place because it just cannot be beat! Family operated & delicious. Kind staff. We love the Gaze Light, Derke Tibs, & veggies. Doesn't churn tables like other places, but worth your time! Every bit of 5 out of 5 stars.

Great find .Beautifully decorated love the ambience.Plus the staff super friendly .Family owned…read moreEthiopian restaurant great tasting food .We ordered fish dishes two kind .Veg dish plus a platter with beef and extra side .All were yummy very tasty .Their only draw back is they have one chicken dish in their menu and two kinds of fish . Rest lot of beef dishes. Wish they served lamb dishes like other Ethiopian restaurants.

I have passed by this place many of times the past few years and kept telling myself that maybe…read moreI'll try it out sometime but never have until last night. I am very glad I did! I have always gone to Enat a couple miles down the road the past few years, but it was always unpredictable how it would be. Sometimes the food and service was fantastic, other times it was Ok, and last month it was awful...so last night when we were craving Ethiopian food, we decided to try Monarch. The service was absolutely fantastic and the food was amazing! The two of us ordered the vegetarian combo and I don't remember what meat/tibs because we asked the server which one she recommended and went with that. The food was definitely better than a couple other Ethiopian places I have been to in the area and the portion was generous! I almost thought we accidentally ordered a double portion of meat because it was a much bigger portion than I received from other places. I had leftovers for later that night and again today. The food was a little bit longer of a wait than I expected, but to me that just means they are making it from scratch and that it is fresh. The bill came to around $30 before tip which is quite a deal for that much food of great quality. The service was also very good with our server being friendly and attentive. Not only that, two other workers there...maybe the owner or chef (I'm not sure) dropped by to check on how we were and how the food was. If they keep this up, watch out Enat and other Ethiopian places in the area. You have some competition from Monarch!

Wife called the order in and I picked it up…read more Had a little confusion with the new name change to Monarch Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar but once I realized the address was the same I went in through the front door. They have outdoor covered seating on a patio area and two people tables against the building. (There was a strong smell of cigarette smoke and a few men sitting on the patio; not sure if they were smoking but there were ashtrays one the outside two person tables). Food was ready and the employee was very nice and informed me the restaurant name changed since they were now serving hard liquor; so that's awesome for the future after the pandemic! The area appeared very clean and pretty spacious. The food smelled so good in the car ride home! We got the awaze beef and lamb tibs and both were good but the beef really hit the craving!! The meal came with a small salad and some sauce (not spicy) and the best part was the food being served on top of the injera so it didn't leave a giant sauce mess in the plastic bag or my car! Yay!! Since our favorite Ethiopian place in Alexandria closed this is going to fill the void!! Can't wait to come back and try more items!