Lesaac Ethiopian Cafe

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.

Veggie Combo + Lamb Tibbs Entree (all on one plate)

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Stamp of Approvals!

Elilta Restaurant

4.9(106 reviews)

2.1 mi

Seeing a lot of Ethiopian influence in the area, I knew I had to give their cuisine a try! I…read moreordered online and got to the restaurant a bit early. The owner and her family greeted me with a smile and despite a language barrier and broken English, helped guide me as to what I would be eating! The food was unique, with a heat I was unfamiliar with and the flatbread helped as I was told this food needs to be eaten with your hands!

Great food, seating available, beer, sodas available as well…read more Owner stated we can park in the lot in the back. Wish there was a little more food but we did not leave hungry ha.

Coffee

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Habesha lager beer

Nazrawi Ethiopian Restaurant

4.3(348 reviews)

Nazrawi was the perfect choice…read more I decided to pop in for a meal after arriving really early for a nearby event. I settled into a seat at the bar, and right away the intimate vibe won me over -- cozy and genuinely warm. The fish dish was absolutely delicious -- flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and clearly made with care. The yellow lentils were rich and comforting, and the injera? It was the ideal vehicle for everything on the plate. I enjoyed every single bite. The service matched the food -- sweet, attentive, and unhurried. The kind of warmth that reminds you a real family is behind this place. It was a cold one outside, so on my way out I ordered a spiced tea to-go. The perfect ending. Nazrawi doesn't just feed you -- it sends you off right. Highly recommend. This one's going in the regular rotation.

OK overall. Went at 8:00 on a Saturday night yet there were few people dining. I ordered Minchet…read moreAbish and was told they were out and couldn't serve it. Seems strange to be out at 8:00 on a Saturday night with modest business. I don't believe they had so many orders that they ran out; they just chose not to make any on a Saturady might, imo. I picked this restaurant solely because the serve Minchet Abish, so I was very disappointed. Sambusa was good. We ordered the Veggie Combo, which came without the tomato salad listed on the menu. Tibs were good. Probably would not return.

Inside bar

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Bete Ethiopian Cuisine & Cafe

4.2(210 reviews)

0.4 mi

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!

Ethiopian beers.

Beef sambusa.

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Injera.

Meleket Restaurant

4.4(208 reviews)

1.5 mi

They were a great restaurant. They will truly be missed. I was a consistent purchaser of their…read moreveggie combo.

Overall, I thought we had a nice time at Meleket Restaurant. While I'm not an expert on Ethiopian…read morefood, I enjoyed everything we had. The restaurant seems pretty legit because we saw a few Eastern Africans (sorry for the assumption) dining there with their families. Although I cannot remember exactly what we had, everything was delicious. If memory serves me correctly, we pretty much asked the waitress for recommendations, and she suggested a couple of meat and veggie combos. Although we enjoyed the food, I have to admit that we thought service was a bit slow, or rather low-key, especially considering that there were only about 7-10 other folks in the restaurant. Like most places in area, parking can be a bit tight. The restaurant shares a small parking lot (maybe 10-15 spots) with 4-6 other businesses/restaurants. There is some additional parking at the supermarket next door, but I'm not 100% sure if customers can use that parking lot.

Meleket's Special lamb Tibs and Veggie Combo

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Seb-Seb Restaurant and Bar

4.5(40 reviews)

0.5 mi

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.

Tibs FirFir, Lega Tibs

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Rohobot Ethiopian Restaurant

4.4(145 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$

One of many wonderful Ethiopian restaurants in the area. I do not remember dining here in person…read morebut have gotten delivery a few times and loved it.

I visited for the first time with a friend who's a fan on Ethiopian food. We both enjoyed the food,…read morethe staff was super kind and patient. I look forward to visiting again.

4. Veggie Combo 5 items

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Zene's Deli & World Market

3.9(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!

Coffee prep area

Fresh roasted Coffee beans for fresh brewed coffee by Jebena.

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Special Veggie Platter

Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant

3.3(163 reviews)

My partner and I road-tripped for our anniversary to DC and was looking for a late night meal. We…read morestumbled on this restaurant that was open and still serving food. We had gotten the chekena tibs and awaze tibs with our kind and hosptiable waitress's recommendation. Mind you, it's about 1am. The food came out quickly and was hot, I'm not sure which is which but they both were well seasoned and absolutely delicious. I would've loved some rice to sop up all that yummy sauce and green spicy sauce. It was such a pleasant surprise to have something new and truly feel nourished from it. Also we had gotten drinks I wine and a shot but my partner got a tequila lime, which he says was nice and strong. The music was beautiful but a lil loud where it was hard to hear the waitress and one another. Otherwise a great time and good opener to our visit.

The food was authentic and really tasty. I enjoyed most of what we tried. Both the beef tips and…read morevegetable combo were great but the chicken was a little bit overcooked. There was also a woman roasting coffee and it was really good. Our server was nice and helpful as well, and I'd definitely try it again!

Nasty food

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Chekena tibs and Awaze Tibs

Effoi Restaurant

4.4(47 reviews)

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

My cousin was in town from Atlanta and was really craving Ethiopian food. She found this spot, and…read moreit 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.