Shashamene, 1909 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-328-2223 , where Abiti used to be.
A new entry for the 9th Street Ethiopian row. The menu is narrower than most but quality is above average and the vegetarian sampler is especially noteworthy. If you are vegetarian and opting for the sampler, this may be your #1 bet in town. Not a palace but it has a “nicer” atmosphere than many of the other places in the area. First-rate kitfo as well.
Meaza International Market/Restaurant, web site, 5440-42 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-820-2870 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo (Eve Zibart) | City Paper | Yelp]
[update December 2007: new entry and located at 5700 Columbia Pike]
Yummy in taste and original in execution, the kitfo is great here and the place even looks nice. The best Ethiopian in this entire area, every dish here is strong.
Meaza, 5700 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-820-2870, I’m not sure about the number on Rt. 7, it is what their card says but some people tell me it is wrong. [This place was formerly at 5440 Columbia Pike: previous TCEDG entry]. In any case it is on Columbia Pike just east of Route 7 by Circuit City (which address is 5710 Columbia Pike). (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [chowhound | Yelp]
Excellent, excellent Ethiopian, maybe as good as the DC dumps. But it’s a nice restaurant too. The fish tibs you can’t get in other places. First-rate kitfo. Wide variety. A clear #1 Ethiopian for Virginia and yes it is pressing on the DC places too. Attached to a coffee shop, plus they have Ethiopian music on some nights. Definitely recommended, although perhaps I would prefer if the dining room had more light.
Ibex Restaurant, 3813 E & F South George Mason Drive, Falls Church, VA, no phone given. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
A vibrant Ethiopian place in my favorite ethnic mini-mall (Skyline). The quality is uneven but nothing is bad and the very best dishes are very good indeed. Get the firfir and the qitqit. Get any dish that is laden with lots of injera (bread) and it will be first-rate. Not everything hits the spot here but I am definitely keeping the place in my repertoire.
Abay Market, 3811-A S. George Mason Drive, Falls Church, VA, 703-998-5322 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
Now this is an interesting place. They have only three dishes: raw beef, and I do mean slabs (tere sega), not chopped kitfo, lamb soup, and slightly cooked kitfo (mostly raw). That’s it. All come with bread, sauce, and spices. The lamb is pretty fatty, the soup is tasty.
No doubt this is the best raw beef emporium for miles and miles around. It will disappoint those who seek side orders, vegetables, or indeed anything else. A+ for atmosphere. Ask for their assistance in eating the food.
Recommended, but you’d better know what you are looking for.
Also see "Cuisine of Ethiopia" on Wikipedia
Zenebech Injera, 608 T Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-667-4700 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [evite | Yelp]
This restaurant with two tables is now the best Ethiopian place in Washington. It is better than Adams-Morgan, better than the 9th Street row. Especially if you don't mind hearing them grind up meat in the nearby back room.
Every dish is excellent and the flavors are simply more real. Get the raw kitfo, and you do need to ask for it spicy otherwise they will notice your possibly pale face and dumb down the food accordingly.
Oddly this place is right next to Thai X-ing, which has only one table and is the best Asian restaurant in town. DC is finally developing the right mix of high rent and low rent districts to support such entrepreneurial ventures.
Casa Mia, Lalibela, 3111 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA not too far from Glebe Road, 703-920-9500 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [openlist]
The second best Ethiopian place in Northern Virginia. Reliable, and adequately spicy. Not as good as what you find in DC, but a good introduction to the cuisine. In 2002 they moved into their larger quarters, in a former Italian restaurant. Incongruities abound, but they add to the charm of the place.
Ethiopian food spreads out a variety of curries on a pancake-like bread called Injera. You then eat it with your fingers. But this is no mere novelty, it is an excellent cuisine. My favorite dish is the Kitfo, raw beef doused with chilies and a kind of dry cottage cheese. And don't forget the potato salad.
Washington is very strong in the area of Ethiopian food, so most of the places are recommended. The less refined places tend to have spicier food, and I prefer those to Meskerem; you can pretty much pick one randomly. But Meskerem is where most of us started.
Walia, 6840 New Hampshire Avenue Takoma Park, MD, 301-270-4545 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Takoma Voice | City Paper]
Another Maryland Ethiopian restaurant, but at a higher level of squalor. Let me know if you have been.
Langano Ethiopian Restaurant, 8305 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 301-563-6700 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Silver Chips Online | Silver Spring Voice | Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Ethiopian food, for those who chose Maryland. They have a lunch and weekend buffet. Not the very best, but there is something to be said for the buffet feature if you are in a hurry.
Zed's, web site, 1201 28th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-333-4710 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
Cannot come close to its previous glory days when it reigned supreme. The dry cottage cheese is worth ordering as a side dish. Otherwise go to 9th Street or U Street.
Warka, 275 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA, 703-435-2166, that funny industrial park in Herndon with all the ethnic food (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Herndon Cuisine | Gayot]
Herndon continues its rise in the world of ethnic food. How bad can this place be?
Fasiledes, 3821-B S. George Mason Drive, Falls Church, VA, 703-931-4141 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [food-plan]
Good, but not the best Ethiopian place in Northern Virginia. In one of the best malls for ethnic food, however, which counts for something. Go if you want to, but don't render a final judgment on Ethiopian food from these places.
Roha Ethiopian, web site, 1212 U Street NW, Washington DC, 202-462-1212 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
Another good U Street place. It doesn’t reign supreme, but going here is no mistake. I especially like their spiced yellow lentils. Good lamb tibs also.
Awash, 2218 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-588-8181 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [City Paper | openlist | Yelp]
A bit south of Meskerem.
Probably the best Ethiopian place in Adams-Morgan right now. Addis Adaba is good too.
Habesha Buffet, web site, 1919 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-232-1919 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [menupix]
Ethiopian buffet and also carry out and order off the menu, run by the brother of the woman who ran Sodere. Consistently good, and the tripe may be the best in town. The vegetables are quite fresh. A fun hang-out. Ultimately “buffet” should be suited to Ethiopian food (tender foods cooked slowly, in spices, like Indian), I am curious whether this innovation prospers.
U Turn, 1942 11th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-299-9882 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | Yelp]
The Washington Post says that spicy beef is their Sunday special. I have yet to go.
Salome, 900 U Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-518-5493 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window)
They are known for their home-made injera, or bread. Right now it is under reconstruction.
Etete, 1942 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-232-7600 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | Hill Rag]
By far the “nicest” and most upscale of the 9th Street places. This is where you should bring your mother. They also have a few pastas on the menu. Excellent vegetarian dishes.
Abiti, 1909 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-328-2223 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper]
Another from 9th Street. The lentils or split peas (Shiro) are the specialty. In fact they are the best I have ever had, anywhere, in any cuisine. The kitfo is first-rate as well. This is perhaps not the most versatile Ethiopian place, but it is one of the best. Note that all the seats are low-lying, and require you to bend over your food. I don’t mind but some might.
Queen Makeda, web site, 1917 9th Street NW, Washington DC, 202-232-5665 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
Matt Yglesias likes this one. They are well-known for their catering.
Axum, 1936 9th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-387-0765 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | Yelp]
Another good pick on the 9th Street row.
Sodere, web site, 1930 9th St NW, Washington, DC, just north of T Street, 202-234-2425 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Don Rockwell]
Closed. A Taste of Carolina, serving southern food, is there now: web site. See the Ethiopian category for other suggestions.
An excellent Ethiopian restaurant in the 9th St. row, just south of T. This corner is the center of the Ethiopian community. Competition is stiff, but this is perhaps the best all-purpose place, even if not my favorite in any particular area. Their sauces are especially good.
Dukem Ethiopian Market, web site, 1114 U Street NW, Washington, DC, south side of the street, looks like a Deli or a food mart. (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp ]
Formerly the best Ethiopian food around, but their larger size has made them shakier (go to Rome for the very best). It remains good, but is no longer just mama’s home cooking. Get the Foul (pronounced "fool") for breakfast (crushed fava beans, garnished with fresh onion, jalapeno pepper, sour cream, and fresh tomatoes). I love the fish too. Good tripe.
Meskerem, web site, 2434 18th Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-462-4100 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Yelp | Gayot]
The best known Ethiopian place in the area, but there is no longer any reason to go here.
Washington is very strong in the area of Ethiopian food, so most of the places are recommended. The less refined places tend to have spicier food, and I prefer those to Meskerem; you can pretty much pick one randomly. But Meskerem is where most of us started.
Madjet, 1102 U Street NW, Washington, DC, 202-265-4779 (Metro Trip Planner - opens in new window) [WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
An up-and-coming Ethiopian place on U Street. I like #9, the beef special, one of the best Ethiopian dishes in DC and not found in most other places. The Titanic Tibs is good too. The word “Shiro” also will do good things for you. High quality, although (because?) the menu is more limited than in most places.