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Effoi Restaurant

4.4 (47 reviews)
Open • 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)

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Recommended Reviews - Effoi Restaurant

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Lamb that our server threw in the box Yebeg Tibs Yebeg Tibs Awaze

First off we found this place on google with a 4.8 star review... this is why we went. To start, we waited about 15-20 min just to get water and had to wave the server down in order to order.. I asked her "how long will it be for a veggie plater" she told me like 10 minutes. Mind you we got there at 8! Yea the place was packed but I'm sure if they would let people know how long it would take for the food to come out, they would reconsider... we waited 2 hours to get our food, which we then tell her to give us Togo boxes so we just pack it up. (We had a baby with us), well... my husband tells her he'll pack it up and she says "no I got it" and just dumps it into the box vs us being able to separate it. See pictures... food is good but the experience and her energy didn't make our time here enjoyable. We will not be back! And I truly recommend if you go here be ready to wait 2 hours for the food to come out and another hour for your check... also it felt like they were favoring the Ethiopians while we couldn't even wave her down to ask for more water... Ambiance : 3 Food: 4 Service: friendly but not attentive Wait: 1 star,

Chris G.

I convinced my date to try ethopian for the 1st time ever. I picked this place and I haven't been here before. This place is AMAZING!!! Wow, what an experience she had on her first ever ethopian adventure. Ella was our server and let me tell you she served up the most memorable experience I had at a restaurant. I had the kitfo and my date had zil zil tibs and we both shared sambusa and the coffee experience as well. This has now become our restaurant toge!

Ethiopian honey wine

10/10 experience! I'm fairly new to Ethiopian food so this was one of the first places I trued. I LOVE it! The food is amazing, it's fresh, and the ambiance is very welcoming. Everyone was kind when I went and they give you a lot of food. I came here for the first time on a Friday and came right back on Sunday. On Friday Ella was my waitress and she was very kind and attentive. She explained some of the food items and made sure we had everything we needed. I had the veggie combo and doro wot. Both were great! The second time I went I ordered the veggie combo again.

people sitting at tables in a restaurant
Michael D.

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant near Sliver Spring. It's has a wonderful atmosphere with a lot of locals, eating dinner, hanging out and enjoying themselves. It's a lot like you have at a family dinner. The food is legit. It is authentic as you can get.

Doro Wot with Ayyib - A round plate holds traditional Ethiopian dishes, including injera bread lining the plate, a portion of beef stew (likely Doro Wat), and a small bowl of cheese. The plate is placed on a table in a restaurant with wooden chairs, a vase with yellow flowers, and a Coca-Cola can visible in the background. The setting suggests a casual dining environment with other patrons and ambient lighting.

If I could rate 6/5 stars I would because this place deserves it. As an avid enthusiast of Ethiopian cuisine, I was impressed by not only the quality but the service and ambiance. I was met by Ella, who was very friendly and went over and beyond to teach me more about Ethiopian cuisine! She even taught me a few words which I really appreciated. She was very attentive and provided the best experience for me as a guest. Additionally, the establishment is vibrant with lively contemporary Ethiopian art and full of amazing vibes from guests. As someone who is not of Ethiopian descent, I felt very welcome and will definitely be returning.

veggie combo with tofu

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9 months ago

Superb injira, lentils, chickpeas. An absolute delight for the senses with attentive service (thanks Nevayt!) to boot.

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The worst. Low class. Loud music on a work day until 4am

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Ask the Community - Effoi Restaurant

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Beteseb Restaurant

Beteseb Restaurant

(290 reviews)

$$

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.

Honestly, I thought it would be a lot better with so much hype. Everything was a bit off…read more The service was OK. Our waitress didn't check in at all. When you go in, you have to have the mind set that it is a small business restaurant. I think it's because when I hear James Beard, that service is a part of it. They didn't know what beers they had or wine. I had to think what beers would be here based on me being at a Guyanese event! lol. The food was OK! It wasn't mind blowingly good. There is another Ethiopian spot in SS that was so nice and extremely good food so I thought this would be 10x that. This is small, but there was no music and it was sooooo bright in there. I feel like all of that sets the mood for the experience. The positive is that it is still extremely reasonable. We walked out of there with a $60 bill, which was two beers, beef and veggie platter and a side of rice and chicken drum. Also, you are still supporting small business when you go and not some chain.

Bete Ethiopian Cuisine & Cafe - Several meat dishes and veggie sampler around the outside

Bete Ethiopian Cuisine & Cafe

(210 reviews)

$$

Great vegetarian combo--good value. I came in on a Saturday night before a concert around 7 PM. I…read morewas seated right away. They sell beer and wine and the seating is cozy, decor is eclectic. I got my food within about 15 minutes of ordering and the portions were huge. The lentils were my absolute favorite. Everything was decent, but the red lentils were standout. Injira was delicious. It was easy to check out and the bathrooms were clean. It's just off the main drag in silver spring with numerous garages nearby. All in all, a great option!

Shout out to my Ethiopian brothers and sisters for this phenomenal establishment! Looking for…read moreauthentic Ethiopian food? This is the spot. I was greeted by warm and welcoming customer service. I stopped in as soon as the restaurant opened and was able to choose my own table. I ordered veggie sambusas as my appetizer, traditional Ethiopian tea for my drink, and lamb tibs for my main course. The drink was warming and earthy! These herbs helped digest your food and calm the senses. Ethiopian cuisine is like medicine to the body and soul! The sambusas were so delicious and warming!!! The sauce that came with it was very warming and flavorful! I felt both fulfilled and like my senses were singing! The lamb tibs were simply divine! Juicy, tender, and flavorful! Paired with the injera bread and the vegetables! Do not get me started! During the time I was here, many people were coming in and out of this place. Best believe I will be back! It is a nice treat and well worth it! Cheers!

Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar - Veggies deluxe combination

Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar

(40 reviews)

Came to meet up with a friend for dinner and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal!…read more The inside dining area is swanky, but also connected to a pretty bare-bones liquor store which creates a mismatch labyrinth to find the bathroom, snaking past storage crates, etc. It's a little odd, but if you're not particular, it's not big deal. There's a lovely covered outside area to eat, which is what we opted for. For some reason, the plastic clover "growing" on the outside wall really amused me. The food - awesome. I think we made the right choice to get one Vegetarian Sampler and one order of lamb tibs to split. Everything on the vegetarian platter was delicious. My favorite was the lentils with berebere spices. They even had a small salad which was good, but surprising that it was spicy! The lamb tibs were flavorful and came with slices of spicy peppers that were a delight. Not for those sensitive to spicy food! They have plenty of drinks inside, but it's hard to go wrong with a nice glass of Tej (Ethiopian honey wine), which they didn't skimp on when pouring! My only complaint would be that we ran out of injera bread (this is probably the first Ehtiopian place I've been to where they served our food directly on a plate without a large piece of injera underneath) and the waitstaff is pretty hands-off so it took a while to get someone to bring out some more. But if that's my only complaint, it's not a bad experience overall!

Seb-Seb is a small Ethiopian spot in Silver Spring that's honestly easy to miss, but I'm glad we…read morestopped in because the food was really enjoyable. I started with the beef sambusa appetizer, and those were the stars of the night for me. The crust was perfectly flakey and the lentil filling had just the right amount of spice so I could enjoy every bite without feeling overwhelmed. For our main dish, my wife, daughter, and I ordered the veggie deluxe platter. It came with lentils, yellow peas, beets, and a variety of other vegetables and beans. Everything was served with injera that was soft, fresh, and really delicious. I liked that none of the portions were too spicy, which let me appreciate all the flavors. The staff was friendly and helpful throughout our visit. Overall, we had a great experience and I would be happy to come back again.

Zene's Deli & World Market - The Special Veggie Platter

Zene's Deli & World Market

(38 reviews)

This spot is located on Fenton off the main row of Ethiopian restaurants on Georgia Ave. One of a…read morerelative's favorite spots so our first time. We met for lunch on a Sunday. We loved the coffee prep area where the Etan (traditional burning incense) scent fills the air and you can view the Buna (coffee) being made. Complimentary Ethiopian Bread delivered personally from table to table was also a nice touch. We ordered Special Kitfo which includes the cheese (Ayeb) side, Shint (filet) Tibs and veggie combo. We had 4 in our party so just right portions. Tibs was tender and seasoned perfectly as well Kitfo. The Veggie combo was delicious. We ended our meal with the freshly made Coffee. Black and No milk please. So good. Service was exceptional! Our server took great care of us. The owner arrived and immediately started to visit tables greeting customers and offering more complimentary bread. We felt like we were visiting family, friends. From the market, we picked up a freshly baked loaf of bread as well Injera from Ethiopia. Our only regret is not discovering Zene's earlier. Serving up exceptional food with above and beyond service-not to be missed!

This place is so welcoming! They make you feel at home as soon as you walk in the door. The owner,…read moreZene greets you and offers homemade bread! The smell of the coffee is so inviting! My friend saw them on IG and I added it to my list. I figured they must be new because surely I've heard of all the Ethiopian spots in downtown Silver Spring! Wrong! There's just that many! We had lunch here this past weekend. My friend got some vegan options. I got the awaze tibs - they warned me it would be spicy. It was perfect and to my liking. If you can't handle heat, then stay away from that one. It was an adequate amount of meat. I ended up needing extra injera and they were so nice in getting more for the table. This place is unique in that it's not jut a restaurant. It's a market with food items and clothing. I love that! My friend ended up getting some injera to go! They could do better with the signage as the name isn't clearly seen from the street but maybe that was by design! If you know, you know! I would definitely come here again!

Effoi Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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