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    Doro Soul Food

    4.0 (106 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Doro Soul Food Takeout or Delivery

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    Tank G.

    This restaurant serves soul food with a Ethiopian flair. The chef of the resturant is rumored to be a Michelin rated chef and after eating here I believe it. I placed my order online and it was ready when I got there. I ordered the 3 piece chicken dinner with a side of collard greens. I think this place is a walk-up/carry out joint. It is located next to a bar that was really hopping when i got there. I picked my food up from a pick up window. Parking here is very tight. There is parking available in the front of the restaurant, but it was all taken and there were many cars double parking to run in real quick. I decided to park around the corner and run and get my food. My interaction with the staff was very, very limited, so I really cannot speak on their friendliness. My food was really delicious. The chicken had the hot heat and it was just right with a little kick. I cannot describe the flavor, but it is unique and I loved it. It was crispy and the sauce was oil based. The collard greens were just as unique and just as good. I highly recommend checking this place out. They have some really good food. I would say it was some of the best fried chicken that I have had. I hope to make it back here real soon.

    Sweet potato fries
    Peninna A.

    The food was amazing. Crispy, well-spiced, and well-salted. I ordered tenders thinking I would get small nuggets that I would finish in a sitting. When my order came to the table, I got large, HEFTY pieces of chicken that I was able to spread out over two days. I was the only person dining at the time, so my food came out quickly. I am not sure how the wait differs on a busier day. I was attending a concert at the local 9:30 Club, where I wouldn't be allowed to bring food inside. Since I wasn't able to finish my tenders in 1 sitting, I asked my waitress if I could hold my food there and come back before they closed, and she very kindly accommodated me! I really like the concept of the open air bar that leads into the restaurant, but (at least in October) it made way for flying critters! By the time I left, my feet were covered in bug bites. I would happily dine at Doro Soul Food again, but probably wear close toed shoes next time haha.

    Austin G.

    What a unique concept that's executed perfectly! A takeout spot through a small window just north of U Street NW, Doro Soul Food takes some classic favorite dishes like fried chicken and mac and cheese and adds a Ethiopian twist. I ordered the chicken tenders and they were perfectly fried. The breading is full of flavor and crispy while the meat remained juicy. So good! The mac and cheese was very, very good too. It may be my favorite in the city. If you need comfort food with Ethiopian spices, go here!

    Kathryn P.

    It looks like it was only for take out before, but now you can sit down next door. On the tables there are QR codes which makes it easy to order. I got the 4 pieces of the fried chicken mix of white & dark meat, spiced Mac & cheese, and berbere fries. Everything was sooo good! The chicken was pretty juicy inside especially the white meat which surprised me. The spices on all the dishes made everything taste very flavorful especially the spicedac & cheese. I love when Mac & cheese have a bit more flavor in them.

    Fried Doro Plate - 3 pc
    Ashlee S.

    I had such high hopes! Doro Soul Food has been on my list for a while so when I finally had the chance to check it out, I expected to be blown away. Well that wasn't the case. While flavorful, the chicken is fried too hard. The greens were under-seasoned and overcooked. The fries were the only item they completely nailed. They worked and seasoned perfectly. In terms of the service, the website says they close at 2:30pm but traffic was horrible so I wouldn't arrive until 5 after. They don't answer the phone so I was worried the entire time. Much to my surprise, I arrived and my order wasn't ready despite being quoted a 2:20 pickup time. From what I could, there was only an outside pickup window so don't expect to have an inside area to sit or even stand in while you wait.

    Berbere Fries
    Scott W.

    Fantastic experience. It can be a challenge finding parking but the trip is worth it. There's a wonderful atmosphere with very friendly and helpful staff, and the food is fantastic. Everything we had was delicious. My wife and I had the alicha char-grilled Doro plate, turmeric Cole slaw, collard greens (best I've ever had), sweet potato fries, berbere fries, and a goden taco. I would say even if you are a big meat eater, the goden taco is a MUST HAVE. For a veggie taco the flavors were spot on. Down is definitely a keeper! Probably the only downside is parking can be difficult, street parking in DC. But go for it.

    Order Window
    Denzel L.

    Ordered some chicken, Mac n cheese and greens? The max was a lil tooo wet. The chicken was fried golden, but was a bit tough, had me questioning what animal I was eating fr. I'll double back when I'm back in town cause I believe this is a good establishment.

    Mac N Cheese
    Jason V.

    Was in DC for the 1st time, and a friend recommended this place. He said its like nothing you've had before, and was right. I only had the chicken and the mac n cheese, but both were on point. Would definitely have again if in DC.

    3 piece dark chicken combo with mac and cheese.
    Paolo S.

    I'd been hearing the buzz about Ethiopian fried chicken made by a Michelin starred chef and had to give it a shot. I went with the 3-piece dark chicken combo. I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be the best fried chicken I've ever had. The breading was perfectly crisp with just the right amount of salt, and the chicken itself was incredibly juicy and flavorful. I ordered it "hot" and it had a nice kick without being overwhelming. I'll probably go up a heat level next time. This is the kind of chicken that's absolutely worth breaking your diet for. The mac and cheese had a little crunch to it, which gave it a unique texture. I also tried the lemonade. It was alright but could've used a bit more sugar. You can grab a seat next door at Le Melange, order from Doro Doro, and enjoy your food there.

    Fried Chicken Collard Greens Fries
    Que M.

    Seasoned fresh Fried Chicken with an Ethiopian Flare. The fries were very good. The Collard Greens, I enjoyed as well. Leafy, Savory & Edible. Overall will be coming back!

    Fried Doro Plate - 3 pc
    Swapna Y.

    The hot fried chicken was delicious though it wasn't very spicy; I should have went for the very spicy one. I really liked the bread it came with but my friends didn't enjoy it as much. My favorite part were the sauces the Berbere hot sauce and the ranch sauce were divine. The greens were also good but not great. We also tired the grilled chicken wings and they were very lacking in flavor and I wasn't a big fan of the texture either. I was expecting a lot more flavor from the fries but found them very bland.

    Fried Doro Plate - 2 pc
    Dan A.

    This spot has been on the list for some time and after missing them on Mondays (they're closed) I was finally in the area on a Sunday-Yes! This is a Ghost Kitchen and is take-out only. In addition to Doro Soul, there is Melange Burger (also from Chef Tadesse). Unfortunately, I found out that Melange (Chef Tadesse's original restaurant) has closed (April, 22). Now for the Chicken. You have three levels of heat. We opted for Berbere (medium). Maybe Mitmita (Burna Boy-very hot) next time. Flavors were balanced and intense with Chicken cooked perfectly-tender. Doro-wot flavored Mac and Cheese was delicious! Corn Bread was on the sweeter side and we enjoyed the Mashed potatoes with Peppercorn Gravy. Dipping the Cornbread into the sauce from the chicken-oh my! Service was quick and friendly. Ordered at the counter/tablets and took about 10 minutes. Great to meet Chef Tadesse. I asked if we could get the National Bird Chicken Sandwich (from Melange) added to the menu and can't wait to see what is coming next from this talented Chef. In the meantime, don't miss his one of a kind spiced Chicken as well Melange Burger!

    November 2023 wall menu
    Celina G.

    I was hosting people from out of town and the first meal I got for them was the best "not your average" fried chicken in DC. Pickup is pretty quick, even if you're early! I arrived 15 minutes before my scheduled pick up time and the staff was able to get the food to me shortly after. The place is conveniently located near the Shaw/Howard station so you can hop off and back on the metro in no time. Inside, they keep it simple. Order and pickup counter only. The meal was still warm when I got home. They package everything well for travel. I got us two three piece fried doro plates that comes with cornbread. I also ordered two sides: the spiced mac and cheese and the turmeric coleslaw. I loved the Ethiopian spice on the fried chicken, which was cooked perfectly. Between the dark and white meat, I acouldn't tell the difference because there wasn't a piece that was too dry! The mac and cheese was good, but I thought the coleslaw was a bit salty. For $5 per side, I wanted a larger portion size, but they still tasted good.

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    2 months ago

    Service was good and chicken moist but tasted bland. I was really excited to try this place. The muffin was not good either.

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    8 months ago

    Their chicken sandwich is one of my favorite sandwiches in DC. Get it spicy (it's quite mild).

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    No, sorry Doro Soul Food does not have any indoor seating. Only takeout and delivery services are available.

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    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

    4.4(905 reviews)
    0.7 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    Super tasty food, fast service, friendly staff, very reasonable pricing…read more This has become a regular for my wife and myself. We eat here at least three times a month. We prefer to go on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday when the crowds are thinner. But don't hesitate for a Friday or Saturday night if we feel like eating their great food. The fare and service is always top notch whether it's hopping or sparse. We almost always get the vegan deluxe. If we feel like some meat, we add another dish and they are all good. I also enjoy their Ethiopian beer, Habesha Cold Gold. It is light, crisp, and refreshing with a clean finish. It has a mild malt sweetness up front, very light bitterness, just enough to balance and is smooth and clean with no heavy aftertaste The Vegan Deluxe is a combination plate that includes everything from a wonderful salad with fresh jalapeños and tomatoes to a wonderful assortment of lentils spiced in different way, also cabbage & carrots, and greens. I always feel good after our meals because the food is so fresh and beautifully done. Our pocketbook is grateful, too. My wife and I can leave with a bill of about $30 including food, a beer and tip. Not many places in Bethesda you can do that. The staff always smile and are helpful whether providing standard service or troubleshooting a challenge. The ambience is not upscale, but it's clean, beautiful, and filled with good people, whether it's the customers who are always having a good time, or the manager, who makes the rounds to ensure everything is going well.

    If I could give 10 stars I would. My boyfriend and I took a quick birthday trip to DC from NYC…read more This was a last minute dinner plan after we weren't sure how the rest of the day would look post bottomless brunch. WOWOWOWOW. small space so it gets packed quick. We didn't wait longer than 10 minutes to be seated. Our servers were so delightful and happy. My most pleasant surprise here has been the service !! They gave us great recommendations and even gave us a taste of all four honey wines they had to offer. We went with the house. YOU SHOULD GET THE HOUSE HONEY WINE !!!!!!! Everything we had was absolutely amazing. My vegan bestie got her veggie platter and my boyfriend and I split the beef tibs and were so so full and satisfied. We have been waiting for the opportunity to go back. This was our last restaurant stop during that trip, and it will be the first stop for our next. They play no games here !!!! Serious food, serious flavor, serious service!!!!!! We highly recommend!!!!!

    Photos
    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart
    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart - Vegan assortment with some kid of beef dish

    Vegan assortment with some kid of beef dish

    Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart - Same photo

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    Same photo

    Abuare  Restaurant - Ethiopian Tea & lamb DELICIOUS

    Abuare Restaurant

    4.8(70 reviews)
    0.7 miU Street Corridor

    This was an unexpected but amazing find. After my original dinner plans with my girlfriend…read moreunexpectedly shifted I decided to refer to a recent list that was shared with me, and this spot came up. It wasn't too long since I had last had ethiopian, but I only have it a few times a year. So I was pretty excited. Once we got there, there was only one of the party inside, and it had the usual delightful decor. We got to choose where we wanted to sit and we browse the menu. We were curious about whether the honey wine was on the sweeter or dryer side, and the lady taking care of us was kind enough to let us taste it before committing. We decided to share a bottle, and we decided to do a deluxe platter as well. That included six veggies and one protein of our choice. We decided on the lamb tibs. Everything came out, and it was all fantastic. I can count the times that I have had Ethiopian lamb, and this definitely did not disappoint. I missed having beats, but I did really love the lentils. Honestly, I'm surprised I hadn't heard of this spot before. The food was fantastic and I'm looking forward to returning sometime.

    Your standard Ethiopian restaurant that offers classic fare at reasonable prices. When in DC, I…read morealways try to get Ethiopian, and it always seems to come from a place where I have to take stairs down (NYC included) oddly enough. I went with the Abuare lamb tips, which were a bit spicy with the jalapeno, but packed full of flavour. It came as a set meal, but only with daal, which I was sad about at first but it was more than enough food to fill me up. The injera was plentiful and the lamb was tender and perfectly seasoned. Service was uncharacteristically good, but that might just be because it was off hours, but regardless, I was appreciative.

    Photos
    Abuare  Restaurant - Inside the resturant

    Inside the resturant

    Abuare  Restaurant - Fish dullet with veggie platter

    Fish dullet with veggie platter

    Abuare  Restaurant - Lamb

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    Lamb

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - We for the Vegetarian Plate #3, the Beef Goden Tibs, and the Awaze Tibs (Lamb)! Soooooo good

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant

    3.5(987 reviews)
    0.3 miU Street Corridor
    $$

    It's no secret that I love Ethiopian food--so when I say **Dukem Restaurant** holds a special place…read morein my DC journey, I mean it. This was actually one of the very first Ethiopian restaurants I tried after relocating to DC, so yes... this review is *long* overdue. From the very beginning, what stood out to me was how they manage to balance fine dining energy with genuine warmth. You get the elevated presentation, the polished atmosphere--but still the friendliness and hospitality that make Ethiopian dining feel like home. I'm a loyal veggie combo person (it's who I am at this point), so I was especially excited to see that their combo options offer a wider variety of dishes than most places. It's truly a "little bit of everything" situation, which is perfect when you're indecisive--or when you're dining with a large group and want everyone to taste it all. More variety, more flavor, more happiness. The food? Rich, flavorful, beautifully prepared. The kind of meal where you slow down and savor every bite. I'm already planning to return with my partner because I recently saw on social media that they offer Ethiopian wine and even wine flight tastings. Ethiopian cuisine paired with Ethiopian wine? Say less. I love when restaurants create experiences, not just meals. And of course, we can't ignore the moment they had in August 2024 when they went viral after receiving stellar reviews from viral food critic **Keith Lee**. What stood out most wasn't just that he praised them--it was that he spoke highly of Dukem while being candid about not having the same level of service and food quality at other local spots he visited. That says something. Excellence stands out. Dukem delivers flavor, hospitality, and atmosphere in a way that feels intentional. Whether it's your first time trying Ethiopian food or your hundredth (like me), it feels special every time. If you love Ethiopian cuisine--or just love great food and great service--this place absolutely deserves a visit. And if you're like me, it won't be your last.

    Finally made it to Dukem DC after first spotting it on TikTok, and happy hour did not disappoint!…read moreWe tried the Beef Tibs, Lamb Tibs, Special Dukem Veggie Combo #2, and Lentil Sambusa--all packed with flavor and perfect with the injera. Huge shout-out to Fefe, our amazing waitress--so friendly and attentive. Great food, great vibes, and an even better deal at happy hour. Already planning a return for the full dinner menu!

    Photos
    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Seating

    Seating

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera!

    Injera!

    Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Bar area

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    Bar area

    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and vegetable sampler

    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.6(299 reviews)
    1.0 miColumbia Heights
    $$

    Excellent Ethiopian spot! All the staff are super kind, and all the tibs have such good flavor…read more There is lots of seating inside, and there is a warm atmosphere you can feel as soon add you walk in. We got theMeat Lover Sampler for 3 people, and we left so satisfied and stuffed! I can't choose a favorite, everything was so delicious. Definitely worth the money, you have to stop here!

    I ate here a few weekends ago with my boyfriend. I've eaten Ethiopian food a handful of times, but…read morewanted him to try since he's never eaten it before. Since they had high reviews, and weren't too far from me, I figured this would be a good place to try. We had perused the menu online before coming inside so knew what we wanted to eat. I ordered the veggie sampler with red lentils, tomato salad, yellow split peas, and collard greens and a side of goat stew while my boyfriend ordered the mushroom tibs (unfortunately there are no pics due to us being too hungry to snap a photo :-( ...The veggie sampler came with a side of injera. The injera came out way before the actual platter. Since I was very hungry, I actually nibbled on that, and wished everything came out at once. The veggies were pretty tasty, but for some reason, I wasn't excited about my overall meal. The goat stew was pretty good too. What I really enjoyed was my boyfriend's dish of mushroom tibs. It was nicely sautéed and well seasoned. I'd probably order that if I ever went back. The interior was very colorful and earthy. The owner, I think, was also very hospitable.

    Photos
    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant
    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera, Yemisir Wot, Asa Tibs, cottage cheese and collard greens for pairing with the kitfo, Kitfo, Kik Wot, Beet and Potato Salad

    Injera, Yemisir Wot, Asa Tibs, cottage cheese and collard greens for pairing with the kitfo, Kitfo, Kik Wot, Beet and Potato Salad

    Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - Cozy ambiance

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    Cozy ambiance

    Doro Soul Food - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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