Nazret is easy to miss -- tucked into the back of a strip mall packed with Ethiopian shops and…read morerestaurants in Baileys Crossroads -- but it's worth seeking out. This isn't a place you stumble onto; it's a place you have to know about, and once you do, you won't stop coming back. Chef Endalk came out to greet our table personally, walked us through the menu, and genuinely seemed invested in making sure we loved the meal. We ordered a generous portion of raw beef for kitfo, and after we sampled a piece, the kitchen happily cooked the rest to a beautiful medium rare -- no fuss, no attitude, just quiet hospitality. The vegetable platter held its own against the meats -- just as vibrant and flavorful, if not more so, with layers of spice in every lentil and green. The samosas were a fun twist too: a lighter, crispier shell closer to an Asian spring roll than the heavier Indian version, stuffed with well-seasoned lentils instead of the usual potato filling. And don't skip the housemade hot tea -- a strong bite of fresh ginger balanced with lemon and honey, the kind of thing you crave again the next cold day. Small room. Big heart. Bigger flavor. If you're chasing "authentic," stop scrolling -- this is it.

First time trying Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint. The authenticity of this place felt…read morefamiliar and comfortable. Our server helped us decide on the VIP platter + injera. Everything was delicious but those Shint Tibs were my fave. For people sensitive to smoke, it might be worth noting that a lot of incense is burned throughout the night (very strong) but goes away after a while.

Hands down some of the best Ethiopian food in the DMV. Enjera does not miss. The flavors, the…read moremodern twist on Ethiopian cuisine, the vibe, and the service are always on point. My favorite menu item is the Derek Tibsi, but those lentils?! I could honestly eat them by themselves. Everything I've tried on the menu has been a hit, and the consistency is what keeps me coming back. I've been here multiple times, and it hits EVERY time. Great food, great atmosphere, and great service. If you're looking for Ethiopian food in the DMV, Enjera absolutely needs to be on your list. Highly recommend.

VERY EXPENSIVE. Two people should not cost $60... Like what the hell? For just some meat and…read morevegetables? Seriously? Nice decor, nice people, food is pretty good, but a lot of little things were just annoying. Really hard to get napkins out of them. You ask for more napkins, and they bring you two. Just two. Remember, Ethiopian is eaten with your hands, so it gets messy. And yet..Very stingy and cheap with those napkins. Not sure why. But they do bring you more injera, but I didn't notice if they charged us extra for it. May have. I hated the QR menu, it's very confusing, but if you ask, eventually, they will bring you an actual menu. Apparently the prices are DIFFERENT between online versus on the paper menu, which is... Shady. The food was good, so I can't really complain, the service was OK, can't really complain too much about that, but there was a distinct feeling of cheapness about everything else.

We just enjoyed an amazing meal at Enatye this evening. We have lived here for 34 years and never…read morethought to try it. Boy...was that a big mistake!! We started our meal with the vegetable Sambusa. The wrapper was perfectly crispy, not greasy and, while flaky, didn't fall apart. The dipping sauce that accompanied was a perfect spicy complement to the lentil filling. A great way to get your tastebuds ready for the main event! For our entree, we went with the Special Combo for two with beef and chicken/doro wot. We allowed our helpful waiter to select the vegetables, and he did a great job. We enjoyed the yellow peas, spicy lentils, cabbage, spinach, scooping it all up with the sour injera bread. The service is excellent and the music makes the meal complete! We will be back soon to try more of the menu. This restaurant is a Herndon gem. I would give six stars if I could. Don't be stupid, like us, and wait too long to try it!! Go now!

Silver Spring has no shortage of great Ethiopian restaurants, but I had Enatye in Herndon…read morebookmarked for a while after hearing so many good things. When we finally found ourselves in the area, I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. We ordered the veggie combo, and it was flavorful and satisfying.What really made this place stand out, though, was the customer service. We ordered takeout, and after getting home about 40 minutes later, we realized part of our order was wrong. I called expecting the usual response--either that I should've checked the bag before leaving or that I'd need to drive back for a replacement. Instead, I got a genuine apology and an offer for a full refund. Since we still had food to eat, I didn't feel right accepting it. They insisted on making it up to us the next time we were in the area. True to their word, on our next visit they treated us to the same veggie combo on the house. You don't see that level of follow-through very often, and it really left an impression. That's how you earn loyal customers. Big shoutout to Emmanuel for taking such great care of us. We're looking forward to coming back.

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.

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.

I brought my mom and her old neighbors here. I had completely forgotten that I had actually been…read morehere before, but then to my surprise, I saw my old review for this place! So the food tonight was absolutely fantastic. We received great recommendations from our server, who reliably informed us that just one veggie platter would be plenty for us, plus a couple of meat dishes. Her recommendations were spot on, and all of us were extremely satisfied. Ameseginalehu!

Consistently good meals, large portions, decently huge restaurant for banquet and rental occasions…read moreservice is adequate and the market is delicious. One of a few places you can get an entire bag of Tejera freshly made and fantastic.

Lovely service and a delicious meal! I highly recommend the beef tibbs and the vegetarian plate…read more Each dish was perfectly seasoned and prepared. I can't wait to return!

Ethiopian food is typically a win for vegetarians- but not exactly the case here. Options were…read morelimited, the collard greens were cold and the beets were slimy. The lentils and chickpeas had good flavor and texture, if you decide to get this dish, consider asking to substitute some of the less ideal options.

Extraordinarily friendly…read more The sampler is easily large enough for two people. We had the sambusa which we loved. The hummus was different but good. We also tried the juices, which were more smoothie like but made without milk! It was a warm ambiance.

Hawwi was a wonderful dinner with the family. Just a two block walk from King Street made it easy…read morefor us visitors to get to it. The inside is clean and inviting and the owner brought chilled bottled water to us all. We started with the baba ganouj. Not something I normally associate with Ethiopian food, but it is meant for dipping, and it goes well with injera. We got the Vegan Sampler and the Awaze (beef) tibs. It was all delicious. I'd say the sampler is enough for two people to share. Some of the items are fine in a sampler, but I don't know if I'd want a whole order of them (like the puréed lentils). Others, like the red lentils, were fantastic and I could eat a whole order of those! The tibs were solid. Nicely spiced but not so spicy that the kids didn't enjoy them. I was surprised when the order came out and the beef tibs were in the middle of the platter for the vegan sampler rather than a separate bowl or plate. One of our kids is vegetarian and we had to make sure none of it got mixed in with the lentil and veggie sides he was eating. That's really my only complaint from the experience. We arrived late, like half an hour until closing but we never felt rushed and were welcomed. We appreciated the hospitality. The prices were reasonable. Would come back.

An absolutely delightful little Ethiopian off Columbia Pike…read more I have walked by this place numerous times and finally went in for Sunday brunch. I had checked ahead of time on gluten free options and, while not explicitly listed on the menu as GF, the injera which I can best describe as a crepe is gluten free being made with teff flour that does not contain gluten. For my order, I got the eggs with beef. This came on an injera and with a side of it as well. You then use the injera to scoop up the eggs and veggies and eat by hand. It was a new, fun experience for me. After the meal, they give you a wet nap to clean off your hands though it wasn't a messy meal by all accounts. I also ordered the latte. It was ok. Next time I'll get the cappuccino. The staff were all friendly and attentive.

Very casual Ethiopian restaurant with a solid menu of very authentic dishes that come in very large…read moreportions I came here for dinner with my fiancé and we early could have split one of the entrees between the 2 of us. Also, they really don't skip on the meat here which I love. Food was very tasty The place is also attached to a small Ethiopian coffee shop that also has a variety of desserts

Hidden gem! Food:…read moredelicious! Tried the sambusa as an app, and when I was undecided between the two options, owner suggested to get one of each since dish comes with two; preferred beef over lentils, but both good; spicy sauce on plate was delightful! As an entree, had the Sheba combo with spicy beef, spicy lamb, eggplant, cabbage with carrots; served with house salad and fresh injera; all delicious, meats were tender and nicely portioned so easy to eat with bites of injera. Ambiance: low frills, clean tables and clean bathrooms Service: friendly and fast; owner recommended the iced Ethiopian tea mixed half and half with lemonade which was refreshing and not too sweet.

I love Ethiopian food and I was in the area so decided to give Sheba a try. I came in not really…read moreknowing what I wanted, but the gentleman who helped me was patient and made recommendations. I got the veggie platter with cabbage, collard greens, potatoes, red lentils, and yellow peas. Everything was absolutely delicious. But even more than the amazing food, I appreciated the warm and intentional service that I received. I will definitely be back.

What a great discovery! My husband and i are usually skeptical about trying new Ethiopian…read morerestaurants and love sticking to what we know- home cooked food or our other favorite spot. But I am so glad we decided to check Ambassel out with our visiting guest !!! Beautifully decorated with authentic Ethiopian artifacts, Ambassel also has really good food! We had sizzling tibs and kitfo and nothing was left on our plate after 10 minutes! If you like authentic Ethiopian food, this spot should definitely be on your list of eateries to check out!

I've Always been skeptical about trying other Ethiopian food, and I should always trust my…read moreinstincts. This food was terrible, overpriced, and he touched my food with a glove that I'm not sure was totally sanitized.