I love this place. The food is tasty and fresh, and the portions are plentiful. I took my leftovers home since it was more than I could finish. I'll be back! read more

First experience of Ethiopian food. We tried the combo along with beef tips, and it was such a wonderful experience. The servers are amazing, and you are able to grab your own drinks (Ethiopian Imports too) from the fridge. We will definitely be back! read more

I'm no expert on Ethiopian food but this place was so good! I really loved the flavor of the beef kitfo (raw) and the lamb tibs. Injera was plentiful - I'm not the biggest fan of the texture so might opt for rice next time. Two of us had plenty of leftovers with three entrees and two would be sufficient next time. They were burning some incense in the restaurant so the smell was really strong - I think if I had a more sensitive nose it might have been irritated by it. read more

First time in Beteseb and we will be back!! The food was delicious, good service, family ambiance. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie combo plus crispy beef tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Wonderful food and staff! We got great recommendations from our server and felt right at home.

Pains me to only give 3 stars because the service is quick and friendly and the restaurant is clean and tidy looking. Spicy tibs were not spicy though! They took all the seeds out of the peppers. Veggie combo could use a teensy bit more seasoning. Overall, a solid place and a neighborhood stalwart. read more

I ordered bozena shiro from Beteseb Restaurant. I Came home with this meal that isn't even one serving soon of shiro. I can't believe my eyes when I opened the order. It is not fresh and It looks like That was the last serving they had. I'm so disappointed & not worth the $13 I spent. Will never order from them again Lucy's restaurant next door is way better. read more

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We got the veggie platter with some beef stews. The food was good but nothing too special. I thought the beef was a bit too lean and dry for me. I like fat. The lentils and potatoes were good. I also love injera in general read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Loved this cozy little Ethiopian restaurant at the corner of Georgia and Thayer avenues! I went there when visiting silver spring after I had seen a pbs documentary featuring this restaurant. We ordered the vegetarian platter which was served family style (Ethiopian family style). But the waitress was very accommodating to our American ways and gave us small side plates so we could have our own. The atmosphere was one of locals hanging out. Hands down the best Ethiopian food I've had read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Delicious! Friendly staff. Amazing food. My favs are the tibs (spicy and/or ribeye tibs, both good!) + greens + salad + cabbage. Loved the combo of flavors They're also generous with the injera! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - CUSTOMIZED veggie combo + ribeye tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

The best! The food is outstanding !! It's a nice little place. The service is great . They are very nice and helpful . They gave wonderful suggestions . The food is the best I have had in a very long time . All the reviews are legit ! Loved it! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Really nice Ethiopian food here. Had an interesting almost rare-cooked meat along with the veggie combo. Was easily enough for two people. Waitress was also very quick and friendly. Conveniently across the street from astrolab brewing read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Kitfo Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Holy yum this is the best Ethiopian I've ever had!!! I got the veggie plate and couldn't decide which was my fav because it was all sooooo delish. For other nervous parkers, I parked in the Wayne garage and walked about 5 min rather than attempt to parallel 8-) read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

This restaurant is amazing! I was with a group of teenagers and adults and everyone just loved it. Most had not eaten Ethiopian food and now are totally sold on it. Every dish was delicious, plentiful, and inexpensive. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating. I only wish I lived in DC--I'd be here constantly. Can't wait to come back to Beteseb on my next trip. I encourage anyone who is in the area to try it. read more

Fantastic food and caring, friendly service. There are other Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood but there is no reason to go anywhere else. Had veggie platter and beef tibs and it was plenty for 2 people. read more

We were in Silver Spring for the day and took the opportunity to get Ethiopian food. This place was highly rated, and I can understand why! We ordered the veggie platter and the doro wot. Both were tasty. I especially loved all of the lentil dishes in the veggie platter! The shiro was also good, but it was missing something. The servers were attentive and friendly, although the food took a little longer than expected to arrive at the table. The restaurant was exceptionally clean, bright, and airy. All and all - great food, good prices. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie platter and doro wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

wow. I had never had Ethiopian food before this but that is going to change now after eating at Beteseb. I went with a group of students traveling from Pittsburgh through a nonprofit, and the staff was so accommodating and kind. The food was INCREDIBLE and I will definitely be coming back every time I am in DC. The resturant has a relaxing atmosphere and the staff makes you feel so welcomed like you are eating a family dinner. I will recommend Beteseb to everyone and the staff deserves only the best!!! read more

This is my first time here i was looking for zigni which they dont have on thir menu but the waiter suggested i get dora which i think is similar. The restaurent is very clean and well-ventilated, they have a good selection of beer and wine and their menu is big too. The food i got was very deliciously hit and spicy very rich in flavors and was finish in no time. I will definitly come back and try other dishes ... The staff are very friendly and nice.. read more

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Most Ethiopian restaurants inconspicuously fall under a "Veggie platter" joint or "Meat haven". According to Ethiopian word of mouth, Betseb has the best kitfo in town--meat haven! I read the yelp reviews prior (all non Ethiopians) and was prepared to either; 1) Bring an industrial grade megaphone 2) Utilize my Resting B**** Face to get their attention while wallowing in silent protest Much to my surprise, my party got the royal treatment! It was the eve before Ethiopian Christmas and the place was packed but server squeezed us in the back. Even the man I suspect to be the owner/manager checked on us. The anticipation for the food COULDNT BE HIGHER! I was prepared to leave my "Desta-Atlanta" days behind me lol FOOD: Kitfo (steak tartar/ $16) and derek tibs (sauteed prime cuts/ $14) Kitfo was sorely lacking on butter. After the first bite my friend and I automatically noted the disparity in the makeup; kitfo is a delicate balance between minced prime meat, spices and Ethiopian kibe (homemade butter). For their mainstay to be kitfo and not deliver is really crushing. The kitfo was accompanied with gomen (collard greens) and ayb (homemade ricotta like cheese). Tibs was good. BUT its such an easy dish that most Ethiopian restaurants cant fuck it up. The reason I trekked to Silver Spring was for the Kitfo-- and that kitfo aint it. The hunt for the BEST KITFO spot in the DMV continues....stay tuned NOTE: Keep in mind of cultural barriers, things that you deem universal are not. If you're not being attended to just physically walk over to a server and vocalize that your party is ready. If issues continue then its your right to make it known in your tip. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Kitfo, needs butter - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I heard good things about this restaurant so I had high hopes. Was NOT disappointed. The food is soooo good. Service is friendly. (If you want to sit outside, call ahead so they can set up for you) read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Kitfo. Don't be scared, order it. So delicious. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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I liked it! I love Ethiopian food and it was very good. The feta cheese was new for me. I would definitely come back when I'm in DC again.

Food was delicious . However I do wish they had gave bigger portions . The portions are small like you're feeding an infant . I brought the veggie combo ! Customer Service was good read more

This was my first experience trying Ethiopian food and I'm a little disappointed it was here. We wanted samosas but they didn't have them because the kitchen was backed up with orders. We ordered the veggie platter which comes with 6 veggie stews and we ordered lamb ribs. Everything was cold except the lamb. We asked for a box and said something to the waitress. She told us it should have been hot and apologized. Of course the injera at the bottom of the stews was mushy by now so it would have been nice if she had offered us more since we were taking home the cold food we received. Overall, I hope this was just a bad day for them because the food tasted good. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

The food is just amazing. The people who manage this restaurant are wonderful. It is our very favorite of many outstanding Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring. read more

My favorite Ethiopian spot in the DMV! I love the the yebere tibs and the atikik gomen! Everytime my friend and I come here we eat wayyy too much because we LOVE it. To die for! I recently tried the Rift Valley red wine and loved it. Will be doing take out until COVID is over. read more

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I don't know Ethiopian food but my friends do and they say this is as good as it gets. Everything was amazing. The general idea is this: You order a platter or an array of items and it arrives on a big platter lined with warm injera, a big pancake (like a tortilla) made from teff flour (which is gluten-free, by the way). You can get some extra injera. You tear off a piece and use it to pick up some food. No utensils! Everything was great. We had some chicken and lamb but the non-meat items are so good this a place you can easily go vegetarian and not feel deprived. Not sure what to order? Let the wait staff advise you. It will be great!! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Having eaten at most of the Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring, I can confidently say that this is my absolute favorite Ethiopian place to eat at! The vegetarian combo is my go to menu item of choice, but before I dive into how great the food is, let's talk about the restaurant environment. When I walk in, the first thing I notice is an open-space concept, with tables evenly distributed throughout the dining area, and an ideal location for small group or large community gatherings. Another thing I immediately notice is 2 large open ventilation systems strategically placed on both the left and right walls near the front entrance. You know how some restaurants leave you smelling like whatever food you ate at the end of your meal? Well, with this restaurant, there is no residual scent that catches onto your clothes because the dining area itself is thoroughly ventilated! This is perfect for me because I often come here for lunch and have to go back to work and meet with clients in person. The customer service is also consistently strong, as waitresses are attentive, check in on you an appropriate number of times during your meal, and are always open to modifying or customizing which ever dish you are ordering. Now- onto the food. I've tried most items on the menu and the veggie combo is a win for me. You can't go wrong with a diverse arrangement of Ethiopian vegetables neatly assorted over a blanket of injera. The atakilt wot is my favorite veggie option from the entire dish itself. To clarify, atakilt wot is cabbage with yellow potato. The combination of cumin and tumeric used to create this atakilt wot give off a rich, hearty, yet earthy aftertaste. The salad served with the veggie combo has a balsamic vinaigrette that pairs well with the slightly sour aftertaste that you typically experience with injera bread. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant to any all locals and visitors to the Silver Spring area! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Tried the vegetarian platter and another plate thats a chicken drumstick with a sauce. The actual platter is a great portion for a group actually. I shared with my husband and left satisfied but not super full haha. In regards to the other plate we got we thought it was expensive and so not worth it for the tiny portion(chicken drumstick). If its your first time here get the vegetarian platter. My advice is to get another plate in addition to the platter. They also had some great beer selection! I thought prices were overall moderately priced with a few exceptions. read more

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I love Ethiopian food, and in the DMV, Beteseb may have the best food. I sampled the Vegetarian Platter ($12.99) and the Yebere Tibs ($12.99). First of all, the injera here is perfect. It's thick and spongy goodness, and they don't charge you for extra injera. Moving on, the veggie platter had all of the normal things you'd expect plus a salad, and each item was delicious. The tibs were also really good. All of our food was fresh and piping hot. The food came out quickly, and our server was very helpful in choosing a meat dish and selecting enough food for four people. I'm willing to venture here from Capitol Hill, on metro, so five stars. read more

The portion size of the food was quite small, and the flavor was rather lackluster. I had visited this establishment some time ago, but I do not intend to return in the future. read more

Delicious beef tibs and veggies! There are several Ethiopian restaurants in this area, but you won't be disappointed here. Almost got the $16.99 beef tibs but paid an extra dollar, $17.99, for beef tibs with 2 sides of veggies (cabbage and split pea) - a great deal! The beef tibs were infused with sauces and veggies, and I liked how they were on the side so they wouldn't soak the injera. Generous portion sizes enough for leftovers. read more

Goldmine! The BEST Ethiopian Restaurant in Silver Spring, MD. No the Best in Maryland!!! Food and service is consistent meaning it is the BEST. Food is always fresh and Delicious. If needed, they have gluten free injera. Honestly, I have eaten at most of the Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring! I lived in Ethiopia for three yrs from ages 7 - 10 yrs old! So, I know how the food should taste!!! Please if you're in the Silver Spring, MD area go and you will Thank me! read more

Let's just say that when you walk into Beteseb, it's clear that the place is gonna be good. What do I mean? The folks working there are chatting like they know every patron, the cooks are busy whipping up stuff and the emphasis on decor is low. Perfect. All I ever want from Ethiopian food is a huge serving of tasty items that include collards, cabbage and maybe some protein source cozy next to and on top of my gluten free injera. Beteseb dishes it up almost perfectly! Admittedly, I've only ordered takeout from here, but I'm always confident they get my order, get it right and get it to me fresh and tasty as can be. My favorite has to be the atakilt alicha- the cabbage with carrots and potatoes. It's so fresh and tasty, with ginger spice added in for extra tastiness. The food here isn't too greasy, which is often a downfall to the veg dishes at Ethiopian restaurants. The food is ample with a higher than normal ratio of the delicious wots and alichas to injera, which is a winner for my dinner! The kik alicha is also delicious- a mild dish with yellow split peas cooked just right! Serve it up with gluten free injera that is soft, pliable and perfectly suited for picking up the wots, and I'm happy here. Note for the veg dishes that the collards have clarified butter in it. There's also shiro and misir wot, which are good, but not as good as the kik alicha and atakilt wot. They also serve up breakfast. Order online or call to have your food ready when you get there! A nice, casual, low key restaurant with delicious food made with fresh ingredients that you can taste. That's what you'll get here. No frills. All food. Good service. I'll be back! read more

Finally came back to my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the area. We got the Kik Alicha (yellow lentils), Cabbage & Carrots, Spicy Yebere Tibs, and the Alicha Wot. The yellow lentils and other veggies were fine. They tasted good but nothing exceptional. The tibs were fantastic! We were using the injera to scoop up the leftover sauce. It isn't spicy, it just has more spices and flavor. I have had the mild one and its not even close. GET THE YEBERE TIBS!!! The alicha wot was ok, compared to the tibs it lacked the depth of flavor. While still good it wasn't on the same level. Our service was prompt (much faster then normal) and they have upgraded the seating/tables so it looks nicer and less like a diner inside. I believe they have added more artwork and decorations which adds ambiance. I will be back! read more

We always go to our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, but this time we thought we should try some other place. Beteseb was a refreshing change. We ordered Veggie Combo and Timatim Fitfit (small pieces of injera, tomato, onions and green pepper). Veggie combo came with yellow lentil, red lentil, cabbage, mashed peas, collard greens and kale. It tasted good. We were particularly excited to try Timatim FitFit. It had a sour kick in it and had a nice refreshing taste. The prices are good, quantity was perfect. Servers are very polite and friendly. Ambience is somewhat 'cafe like', I would not get a date here. It seemed more like a friends and family place. May come back if I crave the Timatim Fitfit ;) read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie Combo and Timatim Fitfit - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Although this is the first Ethiopian restaurant I've visited, I had an amazing experience here. The place is clean and cozy and made me feel as though I was over somebody's house. Our waitress was very friendly and helped us to decipher the menu and choose a delicious meal. We decided on the beef tibs with collard greens and squash. The beef was very tender and tasty and not at all too spicy. There was more than enough of the burdens (the super spongy bread) to go around. I felt like a kid again eating with my hands, something I feel like I never get to do. I would definitely go back here the next time I'm in the DC area. read more

My first time here. Staff is attentive and welcoming. Food is very delicious. Will definitely be back again.

The food was just mild, it doesn't have any taste. We had KITFO special and Tbs. I was told they have good food but it's just average. Service was worst, they did not come to refill our water or check on us if we doing okay or need an extra Enjera. Overall I had bad experience. I don't recommend to anyone. There are a lot of Ethiopian restaurants around here. read more

A friend and I randomly wandered into this place because our first choice was closed. I was blown away by how good this was. We talked about how good it was for days. read more

Delicious food and attentive, friendly service. Took my 80-year-old parents with us to celebrate my daughter's birthday and everyone loved the meal. My parents have only tried Ethiopian food once before, decades ago. Beteseb made them converts! read more