The reason I picked this spot from all the amazing Ethiopian options in Silver Spring is that they had 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! read more

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My cousin was in town from Atlanta and was really craving Ethiopian food. She found this spot, and it just so happened to be right near my house even though I'd never been before. We finally went, and walking in... WHEW. It was super crowded, and this was two days after Thanksgiving, so I already knew it had to be good. We ordered the veggie combo with doro wot and yebeg tibs, and the veggie platter was SO good. My favorites were the ater kik (turmeric chickpea stew), cabbage, and misir (red lentil stew) I couldn't stop eating them. There were about six other veggie options too, and everything was seasoned and flavorful. The doro wot was flavorful but a little too spicy for me, and the chicken leg wasn't very tender kind of hard to pull apart. The yebeg tibs were just okay; not bad, but I've had better. Service was great, especially our waitress she really took a liking to my baby and was hugging him up, which I loved. I also noticed they have a hookah lounge upstairs, which I thought was cute and would definitely want to check out another time. Overall, I'd definitely be back that veggie combo alone is worth it. read more

Kitfo can be tricky--sometimes it's too dry, other times too wet. Effoi's version gets it just right. Perfectly balanced, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. I'm so grateful to have such great kitfo nearby. read more

Effoi Restaurant - Kitfo - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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, read more

Effoi Restaurant - Lamb that our server threw in the box Yebeg Tibs Yebeg Tibs Awaze - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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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! read more

Effoi Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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Since October 2025, I've been to Effoi on numerous occasions and it has always been a great experience. Elleny, has often times been our waitress and displayed outstanding customer service. Along with her, the staff in general has been welcoming and delivered great food and service. Much love to all who served me at Effoi. read more

Effoi is a Silver Spring Gem!! I actually discovered Effoi by total accident! My best friend was visiting from Virginia to explore downtown Silver Spring and mentioned she'd seen a post about this place. We had already eaten elsewhere, so we just popped in for some coffee and dessert. We had the baklava (delicious!) and immediately fell in love with the host, the ambiance, and the overall warmth of the space. Since that first visit, I've been back three times, and it has been consistently amazing every single time. Here is why I keep coming back: The Tradition: I love that they keep the tradition alive with the Ethiopian/Eritrean coffee ceremony. It adds such a beautiful, cultural touch to the experience. The Service: The atmosphere is incredibly welcoming. Even when they are slammed and the restaurant is busy, they make sure every guest is taken care of. You never feel ignored or rushed. Consistency is Key: Whether it's the food or the service, it's always high-quality. Also, a huge plus for me: the restaurant and the bathrooms are spotless. That level of cleanliness says a lot about how they run the place! I am so happy my friend saw that post! As an Ethiopian myself, it is rare to find an Ethiopian restaurant that has the total package and stays this consistent. Effoi has my full support, and I wish them nothing but continued success!! read more

Food is absolutely delicious- we really enjoyed our entire meal and the service. Highly recommend the veggie platter and zil zil tibs and we will be back again soon! read more

Ordered pickup from Uber Eats and it was ready on time. The veggie combo was delicious. I enjoyed every item but would have liked a little bit bigger portions of each. The injera was good and fresh and the restaurant employees were helpful and courteous. It will be our go to in Silver Spring for Ethiopian. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Effoi Restaurant - people sitting at tables in a restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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The food is delicious at Effoi restaurant! We enjoyed the variety of wot (lamb and chicken) and the deret beef along with the variety of vegetables on the veggie plate. Nevayt, our waitress, was friendly and attentive, with a smile all along. When an order was made for my picky eater that he didn't eat, she had it remade to his liking which touched us a lot. Be prepared to wait a while for your food to come out, but it's well worth it as everything was extremely flavorful. read more

Amazing food, warm and lively atmosphere, and great service. Clientele seems mainly Ethiopian. This is a new favorite in a neighborhood of great Ethiopian restaurants. Specially surprised and pleased by the Tofu Tibs. read more

We had an amazing experience and delicious food at Effoi last night. Our waitress Ella explained the dishes well and was so kind. Three of us shared a vegetarian platter with Ethiopian injera made w 100% teff and added a tofu dish that was delicious. The salad was fresh and the vegetables dishes were plentiful. I will have leftovers for 2 meals! A woman was making coffee as well. It smelled amazing. 5 stars. read more

Food and drinks tasted really great, and our waitress Ella was super helpful. There are many Ethiopian restaurants concentrated in this area, I think I like this one best. read more

Delicious! Effoi Restaurant offers authentic Ethiopian cuisine with a laid back atmosphere and friendly service. My party of 8 enjoyed Doro Wat, Zilzil tibs, Awaze (lamb) tibs, and even some less adventurous spaghetti with meat sauce. Our server offered us both "authentic" injara, which is naturally gluten-free, and "regular" (AKA "American") injara. Everything was tasty, and our server was eager to answer any questions we had. It's a great place for those new to Ethiopian food and for the experienced. As other reviews noted, the pace of service is also more Ethiopian than American, leaving guests to lounge and socialize without many table visits, but the servers were responsive when we flagged them down with a question or a request. read more

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. read more

Effoi Restaurant - 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. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Solid choice for Ethopian in Silver Spring. The food is good, they get it done reasonably fast, and the portions are generous. I've preferred the meat dishes to the veggie ones here, but your palate and mileage may vary. read more

the food (veggie combo with tofu dish) was phenomenal, but the wait was.... astronomical. i'm talking like almost an hour for the food to come out, fifteen minutes to get the check, ten to get it back, ten to get a box. this was my boyfriend and my first time there, so i'm not sure if this was typical, but the people around us were complaining about the wait as well (mind you, this is noon on a monday). that makes it hard to recommend and we won't be returning because of it. however, if you have the time, the food really is great! read more

Effoi Restaurant - veggie combo with tofu - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

There's an upstairs club/lounge and a downstairs restaurant under same ownership and kitchen. We chose the louder upstairs area. It's a nice vibe. A few friends smoking hookah and chatting. The food was salty. All parts were high in salt content. The meat was good quality and chewy. My friend ordered a great tilapia dish and I ordered goat tibbs read more

The food is fantastic--veggie combo, beef, Doro Wat, all spot on--and the staff couldn't have been friendlier. But be prepared to test your patience: we waited nearly two hours for our meal, and 45 minutes after ordering, were told the fish goulash was already gone. Delicious, yes, but bring a snack... and maybe a timer. read more

Three friends and I ate at Effoi Restaurant for the first time about a month ago. We had the veggie platter and it was authentic and delicious!! Ella was our server. She was very friendly and attentive, without being overbearing. We highly recommend! read more

Went here for lunch with a friend. We both decided to have the vegan buffet. The food was delicious and what was supped to be hot, was hot. The restaurant was very busy, but our server kept up with the customers! Also, the atmosphere was perfect for lunch and very nice for a quite supper. I plan on taking my husband there soon. 3.5 stars read more

A lovely restaurant with really excellent delicious food (were the leftovers even better?! I'm not sure). This was my first time eating here and everyone was really lovely and friendly. Good vibes and truly delicious food. Definitely will be back :) read more

I came here today at the recommendation of an Ethiopian friend. One of my favorite Ethiopian dishes is Gored Gored, pictured below. You need high-quality beef for this dish, as it is raw and you are supposed to taste the meaty flavor with the sauce only to accentuate it. This was an excellent example of the dish, which leads me to assume their Kitfo, another raw beef dish, is similarly excellent. The portion was also quite generous; enough for two people. And the price was reasonable. Also, the proprietress and the wait staff were friendly. I definitely will return! read more

Effoi Restaurant - Gored Gored: cubes of tender raw beef seasoned with a dry spice rub called mitmita and a chili-mustard sauce called awaze - A traditional Ethiopian dish featuring beef stew with a dark, rich sauce served in a black bowl on a large round plate lined with green leaves. The dish is accompanied by injera bread, a spongy flatbread, placed on the plate. The table also has a glass of beer, a glass of water with a straw, and a pair of glasses. The setting appears to be a casual restaurant with wooden chairs and tables. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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

This spot was awesome! Food was served promptly and was very tasty. I had the Awaze Tibs - generous portion that was reasonably priced. No doubt I'm coming back here. Staff was very friendly and conversational. Come here now! read more

We went for the grand opening today, July 2nd. A beautiful and warm setting to share a meal with a date or with friends. Excellent and warm service, server made an excellent recommendation that the veggie combo was a good start for the two of us and we can order more if we got hungry. There was so much food!! Everything was beautifully presented and delicious. We got complimentary injera and some mitmita and berbere spice on the side. Since it was their grand opening, they gave us a glass of champagne each on the house. Bravo, Effoi! We look forward to returning in the future! read more

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Let me just say that I was initially very impressed with the food and service. If you go on an "off" day they'll give you scrapings for a veggie combo that is neither fresh nor abundant. I called today to see if they have sambusas, they told me yes, but when I got there they told me they ran out. I also ordered the veggie combo, and I specifically said I wanted the lesser one. When I arrived they gave me the larger and more expensive combo which had items I didn't recognize or want. When I explained to her that I didn't want this, she pretended not to know what I was talking about and waited for me to sign the check. I feel taken advantage of, and it seems they used the language barrier to mask their avarice. For those of you who do not speak amharic beware of greed veiled by a seemingly pleasant demeanor. read more

This is a hidden gem in Silver Spring. We came mid-day on a Saturday. There was a woman roasting and serving coffee in the restaurant. My husband ordered one cup and liked it so much that he ordered a second cup. We had the veggie platter and a lamb dish, everything was delicious! read more

Effoi Restaurant - Delicious coffee roasted in front of you. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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I have been here three times and have been impressed each time. First time was during Ethiopian New Year (which we did not know) with a friend and my wife, second with my wife, my, cousin, and her friend a week prior to this past Friday, and the latest time was with my father, wife, and our best friend last night. This is the former site of Addis Ababa which had better furniture than Effoi, but Effoi's food is significantly better. They have vegan meat on the menu which is unique but did not have it each time we went. We do love their Special Veggie Combo which is large enough for two or three people and have also had their Yebeg (lamb) Tibs, Doro (chicken with eggs) Wot, Fish Dulet, Yebeg (lamb) Key Wet, and Bozena (beef in chickpea stew) and loved it all. We also had the chickpea samosas as an appetizers last night which were good but very spicy. The place can get busy during dinner time on Friday or Saturday so it may be a wait to get food but the service has been friendly each time. It is the best Ethiopian place we have tried and we look forward to returning. read more

Effoi Restaurant - Chickpea Samosas - Four samosas are displayed on a white tray lined with paper, placed on a wooden table in a restaurant setting. The samosas are golden-brown and triangular in shape. A menu is partially visible underneath the tray, showing dishes with descriptions and prices. A person wearing a dark, short-sleeved shirt is seated behind the table, with only their torso and arms visible. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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The beef combo platter was amazing. I always love their vegetarian items. Collards, lentils and more. Aromatic, visually beautiful and delicious. read more

Effoi has become my go to spot over the past year. It's where I bring everyone who comes to visit to give them a taste of authentic Ethiopian and specifically Tigrayan food. The staff is so friendly they treat you like family. We usually go for the veggie combo and maybe a meat dish like the kitfo or awaze tibs to get some variety. Price is extremely reasonable for the amount of food you get. Go during the afternoon for a more chill vibe and evening for music or upstairs for more of a bar vibe. Without exaggeration Effoi is one of my favorite spots in the dmv. read more

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My rating = 85 (food 67/75, ambiance 4/10, service 14/15). Lisa's rating = 70. Neighborhood gathering spot for Ethiopian diaspora, nothing fancy but with mouthwatering meat and veggie dishes. We ordered: 1. Veggie combo - key sir (beets), misir (red lentils)*, alcha misir (lentils with turmeric), shiro (chickpeas), ater kik (chickpeas with turmeric), gomen (collard greens), and tikil gomen (cabbage)* 2. Geba weta tibs* (beef with herbs, onion, jalapeno, and garlic) 3. Ethiopian coffee (espresso) * = my favorites read more

Effoi Restaurant - Veggie Combo - A round plate contains multiple Ethiopian vegetarian dishes, including lentil stews, vegetable salads, and cooked greens. The plate is set on a wooden table with glasses of water in the background, and the dishes are arranged around a central salad of lettuce and tomatoes. - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

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

Not since the dearly departed Meskeram have we found a great Ethiopian restaurant. Good, yes, but not great. That is, until we visited Effoi Restaurant in downtown Silver Spring. We ordered the veggie combo and key wot, both of which were excellent. Just a word of warning that if you are there during a coffee ceremony, be prepared for the billowing incense to envelope you and your clothes completely. Otherwise, I highly recommend it and will visit again. read more

Effoi Restaurant - Veggie combo with key wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

might just become my go-to spot now after craving this cuisine for sooo long i decided to try out the beef jerky stew w red lentils. 10/10 !! cant wait to try more read more

Effoi Restaurant - two take out containers of food - Ethiopian Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I celebrated Ethiopian new year 2015 @ Effoi. The food was delicious. Their music selection was amazing. I had fun! read more

Tried the 'special' vegetarian combo. It came with 12-13 small dishes, and each one was excellent. The service was very good, as was the ambience. read more

Ever since this restaurant has opened it has been a NOISE NUISANCE. They have 0 consideration of the fact they are surrounded by residents who HAVE kids who want to sleep and not be woke all hours of the night, well until 3am with their obnoxiously loud music. I don't even know if it's packed enough to have all this noise coming from the place. I've called numerous times and they never turn it down. She said they have the windows and doors open... please close them and stop all this noise and obnoxiously loud music while we are trying to sleep, we were here first. They are not good neighbors & all the residents have agreed. We can't even sleep with the windows open & they're louder than our white noise machines! read more