What a welcoming little Ethiopian coffee shop! Once a market, Dire Coffee opened in 2020…read more Family-owned, Dire Coffee serves Ethiopian coffee beans in all different ways- black coffee, lattes, and more. I ordered the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It came out hot and strong. The woman behind the register, who's the wife of the owner, asked how sweet I wanted my latte. She was very kind! To eat, they have a variety of food. I ordered one sambusa and it was filled with lentils. It hit the spot! The space itself is small, but comes with many places to sit. There's a small parking lot out front.

Strong coffee and great vibes! The staff was friendly and service was quick, which I appreciated. I…read moredidn't try the food, but my coffee was bold and satisfying. The area has a lot of culture and character, which adds to the overall experience. Definitely a solid spot for a caffeine fix.

I recently went to Koma with a friend and had a lovely Sunday brunch. Koma is in a small strip of…read morestores adjacent to Washington Adventist University. When we arrived, there were a few spaces available in their small parking lot, so we had no trouble parking. The shop is charming. They sell a few select beers and wines so it was fun to peruse them as we waited on line to order. Their menu is on boards behind the counter and they also have paper menus, which is helpful to those of us who need glasses! The staff was super friendly and helpful since I hadn't been there before. A+ to them for offering their coffee/espresso drinks in decaf! I had a vanilla latte and it had a deep, rich flavor. One of the best I've had in the area. For food, my friend had the bagel and lox and it was huge! She had to take half home. I had the garlic Boursin eggs. It was a nice pile of delicately cooked eggs, but I wished there was more garlic Boursin flavor. Still really good. It came with salad greens in a light vinaigrette, sauteed mushrooms, and avocado. Very nice dish. They have a serve-yourself water station and, though they bring out your order to your table, you must go get your cutlery and napkins. They have a nice number of tables for a small place and we were lucky to snag one. Overall, a really nice experience and I plan to go back with my husband next time.

Once again, five star meal at Koma - this time for breakfast. Can you beat this divinely presented…read moresmoked salmon platter? The brilliant jade of the avocado? I mean..... I also had the Green Machine smoothie, which surprised me with little bits of crystallized ginger, each one delivering a lovely pop of flavor. We sat outside at the picnic tables on a beautiful spring morning, and even though I rarely emerge for breakfast, I can't deny that it was worth the early excursion.

Absolutely exceeded expectations. My husband and I ordered drinks, happy hour apps, and a golden…read morebeer salad. The margaritas and sangria were outstanding. Flavorful, not too sweet, beautiful garnishes. We had guacamole with elote, a pork pupusa, and a beef empanada in addition to the beet salad. The flavors were amazing, particularly since the happy hour prices were so reasonable. The service was also perfect. This will be a regular go-to from here on for us!

Service from the new staff at the takeout section is a noticeable improvement. She actually smiles…read moreand gets the order right. The chocolate rugelach was way too doughy and dry. The key lime pie is still hands down the winner but it is a rather small portion for almost $10.

First time here and definitely won't be the last. Loving the ambiance and how it's divided into…read morecozy lounge seating as you walked in, counter and bar seating in the middle and towards the back with your usual dining tables etc. We chose the dining area. QR code available on each table so you can order and your order will be coming straight up. My order of shakshouka and violet latte was delicious. My friend had caramel latte and chicken waffles, which she said was also great. Would love to come back trying other items on menu.

I recently revisited Kaldi's Social House, a place I hadn't been to in years. The restaurant…read morefeatures comfortable seating and a large bar that effectively divides the space, accommodating both diners and those working on laptops. We decided to order breakfast to-go. Although there was a line, it moved quickly, which was a pleasant surprise. We tried the 12oz lattes, which were decent but could use a little extra flair to elevate the flavor. On the bright side, the Sweet Corn Waffle and the Waffles with Fresh Berries were both absolutely delicious and a highlight of our meal.

We may have found a new go-to Ethiopian spot! As we usually do when trying a new place, we ordered…read moreDoro Wot and a veggie combo. It was easily 4 people's worth of food, but more importantly, delicious. The veggie combo had the best shiro and collards I've had in awhile as well as delicious beets, two varieties of lentil (misir wot and another name unknown), cabbage & carrot gomen, fried potatoes, salad and yellow split peas. I am usually not as keen on yellow split peas but we thought these were better than average. The doro wot was excellent and for the first time ever, came with two drumsticks. I seriously have never gotten more than one drumstick anywhere else. It was easily twice the size of other doro wot portions. It had a decent amount of heat but probably not as much as our other favorite places. It was by no means bland though, it was excellent, just not as spicy as others (still very spicy by Marylander standards, be warned). The veggies though are mostly milder while also being well seasoned. You get a choice of injera; local injera is a blend that is not gluten free and is included in the price. You can get the 100% teff for an upcharge of 3.50. We aren't celiac so went with the local and it was still good for our tastes. We stuffed ourselves and still had probably 2/3 of the food left so will be enjoying it for a couple more days. The meal came in under $50 and seemed a bargain comparatively when balancing quality and quantity. We will definitely return! Oh, I should add: Service is very friendly, but this is not a super fast place so plan accordingly. It is very clean and attractive, bathrooms clean too. They have a couple small metal tables out front if you want to enjoy the weather, but it might be a little loud as it's right on the street.

The reason I picked this spot from all the amazing Ethiopian options in Silver Spring is that they…read morehad some holiday specials available for Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes that I have never had. This made it perfect for getting an Ethiopian fix of legit Ethiopian food in the area while being in town but also still stick with my plan to only try new dishes I have never had during visits in cities with lots of international options. I tried a "lifer" dish special they had until Christmas: Hilbet. My Realization on the connection to the word Hilbeh from Yemeni/ Yemenite food somehow didn't hit me fully until later on even though I immediately thought of Yemeni/ Yemenite Hilbeh when I tasted the fenugreek in the Hilbet! I am familiar with Hilbeh form Israel where it was brought to by Jews who came to Israel from Yemen like my aunt and of course Hilbet is related! The Ethiopian and Eritrean hilbet, just like the yemenite one is a naturally vegan dish. Unlike the yemenite Hilbeh that is only made with ground fenugreek seeds, the Ethiopian and Eritrean Hilbet has fava beans, fenugreek, and lentils, all ground into a powder, cooked, and whipped to a cream like texture. It was definitely whipped and maybe a little sticky. It would take a little getting used to for me but definitely super interesting and super fun to try. It came with shiro next to it that I was very happy with (one of my favorite Ethiopian stews!). The hilbet was topped with a salty (a tad too salty for me maybe) tomato based sauce. There were pieces of fresh jalapeno on the hilbet which I really liked with it. I really liked the presentation of the dish. The injera was good which is the most important part for me in Ethiopian and Eritrean meals and the food was well spiced-- both, and the injera in particular, have been a source of disappointment when eating Ethiopian food in the limited amount of Ethiopian restaurants in Tucson while living here. There was a woman in the restaurant roasting coffee beans and doing the coffee ceremony which added to a nice ambience. With providing some less common Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes, especially around the holidays I think this restaurant is a real gem and definitely a good one to prioritize trying some special less commonly found dishes at! This is what earned a 5 stars from me which I now tend to reserve for very few favorite outstanding places. My general rating system: 1 star: I would stay away 2 stars: Has some good things about it but I generally don't recommend. 3 stars: Pretty good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back but a decent place 4 stars: Great place. I would go back. 5 stars: I highly recommend stopping whatever you are doing and making plans to try it out! An Evie favorite!

Finally getting around to leaving a review after a few visits to Lost Sock Roasters. Every time…read moreI've been, it's been a consistently pleasant experience. Most recently, I stopped by over Easter weekend (2026) and grabbed my usual go-to, an empanada. This time it was the pulled pork, and it definitely hit the spot just like the others I've had. Not much more to say other than they've been solid every time. I'll keep stopping by whenever I'm in the area.

The rumors are true - Lost Sock Roasters is as good as everyone says it is! I was nearby for work…read morefor two consecutive days and it was necessary that I stopped in both days. The team there is super friendly and kind - I loved seeing them interact with their regulars (there were many). Service is very timely despite being busy and the cafe itself is very cute inside (limited seating but it seems like they have a great outdoor setup). The drinks are super smooth and flavorful! Their rotating signature drinks and syrups will keep me coming back. And the empanada are a must try. Highly recommend stopping by!

Great coffee Breakfast sandwiches is always freshly made…read more Staff is always welcoming and nice Highly recommended

Takoma Bev has become one of our favorite neighborhood spots for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or just…read moremeeting friends for drinks. The avocado toast topped with a perfectly poached egg topped with Japanese black sesame seeds is my go-to order, and the sandwiches are consistently good. Their cocktails are excellent, and the bar side makes a great venue for private parties or larger gatherings. I am apparently in the miniscule minority, but I find the drip coffee a bit too dark and somehow slightly burnt for my taste. Fortunately, they make an outstanding Dirty London Fog and a wonderful London Fog Chai Latte, either of which I'd happily order instead. All manner of alternative "milks" are available as are a pretty decent selection of local beers in their cooler if you are grabbing take out. Be prepared for a wait on weekends--this is one of Takoma Park's most popular brunch destinations. Like many cafés these days, it's a favorite of laptop-wielding remote workers, so tables can be at a premium. In my experience, though, solo diners are often gracious about moving to the communal table when they notice [or more likely are asked polietly if they wouldn't mind moving] a larger group waiting. It's just one more example of the friendly neighborhood atmosphere that keeps people coming back.

As a proud Ethiopian, I was really excited to try this restaurant because I always love supporting…read moreEthiopian businesses. Unfortunately, I left disappointed. The food felt very Americanized, and the flavors were much milder than what I'm used to growing up with. The Awaze Tibs, in particular, lacked the bold, rich, spicy depth that makes the dish so special. It tasted like the seasoning had been toned down, and I found myself wishing for the authentic flavors I know and love. I understand that restaurants sometimes adjust recipes to appeal to a wider audience, but I hope they'll also consider staying true to the vibrant, unforgettable flavors that make Ethiopian cuisine so unique. I truly wanted to love it, but for me, it just didn't taste like home.

This is a great spot. It was a bit hard to find since signage isn't super clear, but it's pretty…read moretiny and located on the corner. I ordered the vegetarian platter and felt it was a good deal and amount of food. I ordered a boiled egg as well as a side of ayib. The ayib was great and the egg was delivered about halfway through my meal which was odd--I actually forgot I ordered it. If it can't be delivered with the meal, it probably shouldn't be offered. At the point I received it I was near done eating. The food tasted good and had a good price point. They also offers Ethiopian beer which was great. This was a good spot, definitely a hole in the wall so I do suggest making a reservation.