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Beteseb Restaurant

4.3 (291 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:30 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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BETESEB RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Beteseb Restaurant

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James L.

According to the last US census and multiple studies, the Washington, DC area has the largest Ethiopian community outside of Africa. While the Adams Morgan neighborhood was the original hub of the community back in the 1970's, for me Silver Spring is the true "Little Addis Ababa" in the DMV. Recognized by both The Washingtonian magazine (https://washingtonian.com/100-very-best-restaurants-2026/beteseb-3) and EATER - https://dc.eater.com/venue/49060/beteseb-restaurant - head chef Chef Darmyelesh Alemu was recently nominated as a semi-finalist for a 2026 James Beard Mid-Atlantic region award. Met up with some folks recently for a group dinner at Beteseb and was thoroughly impressed. As is always the case with Downtown Silver Spring, parking can be a challenge limited to mostly paid street meters; or it's a brisk 10 min walk from the Metro. The interior is tastefully decorated, if not a bit too "busy." In the back towards the kitchen is an array of Ethiopian antiques, pottery, and artwork atop wine racks. The walls are also adorned with beautiful artwork against a neutral color palette. I don't quite understand the large cooler filled with beer and other beverages; gives off a bit of convenience store vibes. But I'm not here for the decor...but for the highly regarded food. We had a large group of 10 people, so the food took about 20-25 minutes to arrive; which is fine since that meant it was being prepared fresh. Several folks ordered various combo platters...which were huge (pics available from other reviews). I wasn't super hungry, so I got the collard greens with beef which as delicious! The collard greens had been slowed braised for hours which broken down the usual tough fibrous texture of the greens. The flavors were a subtle mix of slight bitterness and saltiness which mixed perfectly with the stewed beef. The injera wasn't dry and was the perfect culinary vehicle to tear off pieces and envelope small amounts of my dish. I intended to save some of the entree for lunch the next day, but wound up eating it all there! I finished the meal with some spiced tea, which aided in digestion as I chatted with my dining group. Service was efficient and non-intrusive. Utensils were provided as requested and water glasses were filled when needed. I can see why Beteseb is so highly rated. It's well-prepared food at reasonable prices. Note, individual checks are possible as long as servers are notified at the beginning of the meal. Price for single entree, hot tea, tax+tip was about $30.

Veggie Combo with crispy beef
Caitlin D.

Excellent Ethiopian in Silver Spring on Georgia Avenue!! We got the veggie combo and added crispy beef, also baklava for dessert. Great service, large portions, absolutely delicious food.

Special Beef Kitfo and Atkilt Alicha
Erin S.

The food was so good that I had to pace myself before I overate! I opted for the special Kitfo and its was seasoned very well. I also ordered the atkilt alicha and that was BOMB. The salad had the perfect amount of dressing and I left satisfied. The server was friendly and paid the right amount of attention to us. I enjoyed my meal!

Vege combo, sub out spicy lentils and Chickpeas for extra yellow lentils and collard greens
Kelly M.

Amazing food and value. I'd knock off half a star if I could for not having Tej and not even knowing what wines they DID have lol. But for the Ethiopian food it's a winner as expected. The vege combo was amazing and HUGE for a great price. I was able to substitute a couple veges I don't like for doubles of ones I do like, very appreciated. Meats and fish come with two veges on the side. Great food.

Chris G.

Small place with a pretty nice atmosphere. Great beer selection and the menu isnt overwhelming which is nice. I ordered kitfo raw and a sambusa and ofcourse and ice cold Habesha! Kitfo wasnt the best I ever had but it was still good. Service was good for how late in the day I came. I was here around 9:40pm.

Menu (3 of 4) May 2025
Hanna H.

Heard from others that both DC and Silver Spring, MD has some great Ethiopian food so we decided to give this spot a try! We went on a late Sunday night and there were plenty of tables. After being seated, I noticed that the menu they handed us looked like an updated menu that had great visuals and a refreshed look to it! It's actually the shape of a semicircle so when you open the menu to the first page it actually looks like a complete plate of injera and all the veggies +/- meat which is great for those who haven't had Ethiopian food before. (Included pics of the menu here) We ordered the Veggie Combo and the Lamb Tibs entree which we thought was the perfect variety for two people--especially since getting a taste of each veggie option offered gives you the best of both worlds. They also ask you whether you want everything on one plate which is great for sharing! Everything was very filling and flavorful. Service was good, and it was a ton of food--enough to bring home for another meal (we just ordered some injera to go with our leftovers). What we ordered: -Veggie Combo -Lamb Tibs Entree

Abigail S.

Service: No reservation needed when we arrived, and we were seated and attended to right away. The staff was friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. As the evening went on, it started to get more crowded around 7 PM, so if you're coming during peak dinner time, a reservation might be a good idea. Taste: We were in the mood for Ethiopian food and decided to check out Beteseb based on the great reviews--and it didn't disappoint! We ordered a platter with extra tibs, and it was more than enough for the three of us. Every bite was flavorful, fresh, and perfectly seasoned. You can really tell the food is made with care. Ambiance: The space is cozy and welcoming, and we loved the creative presentation of the dishes--it added a fun and modern twist to traditional Ethiopian fare. It's a great spot for both casual meals and special gatherings. Recommendation: Beteseb is definitely a gem. If you're looking for delicious Ethiopian food in a comfortable setting with great service, this is the place. We'll definitely be back!

Beef and veggie combo platter
Stephanie C.

My boyfriend and I finally had a chance to come here after we had been wanting to check out Silver Spring's Ethiopian food scene for a while. We decided to try Beteseb based on all its recent recognition, and it did not disappoint! We went on a Tuesday evening so it was pretty quiet, just a handful of other guests. Service and ambiance were fine, nothing standout but nothing negative either. The food, however, was delicious (and reasonably priced)! We shared the beef & veggie combo platter and each had a glass of wine. The food was so flavorful, everything was well cooked, and the platter included a nice variety of complementary tastes. My only complaint was the lack of customizability in the combo platter. Some sort of "build-your-own" option would have been great so we could order a variety of meat selections rather than a few different kinds of beef. We were allowed to swap out some of the meats for veggies, but not for alternative meat types. It would be great if they would offer a few different combo options, even if the other meats come at a higher price point.

Beef and Vegetarian Combo
Elizabeth S.

Good is INCREDIBLE!!! Dare I say this may be the best Ethiopian spot I've tried in DC. Boyfriend and I shared the beef and veggie combo for $31.99. Greta food. Great price. Perfect amount for the both of us. Service was good and ambiance is nice. 10/10 experience

Karla V.

I love this place and I love Ethiopian! On a weekend, it gets pretty busy, but I've never made a resy. The service is always great and the portions are huge. We had the doro wot (chickpea puree), cabbage and potatoes, a salad, beets, collard greens, beef and chicken. My favorite vegetable side was the cabbage and potatoes which were stewed in a curry. Don't underestimate the salad which offers a refreshing addition for the injera. They toss the alas with salt, pepper and oil. As for the chicken, it's fall off the bone tender - so good! That also comes with a boiled egg. We received all of this for $30 - what a delicious deal!

Kristen H.

Really great place for Ethiopian food. I appreciate that this place takes reservations and is well set up for large groups. Their wine selection was not the best but you are coming here for the food! Cheap and very filling! Definitely recommend if you are in the area.

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

Doro Wot!!! Omg top Ethiopian restaurants to go eat. I tried a good handful or restaurant but this place topped it!

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

I remember the food being decent. I would like to go again. Service was good and also place is nice and clean.

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2 years ago

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6 years ago

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2 years ago

One of my favorite Ethiopian spots in the county. I've been a few times and have had great experiences.

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3 years ago

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This is the sweetest little spot with food that is out of this world good! Great prices, portions, service, and just so delicious!

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7 years ago

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Page 2 of 8

Ask the Community - Beteseb Restaurant

How much outdoor seating do they have? Is it just one or two tables or do they have a bonafide patio?

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Beteseb Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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