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Letena Ethiopian Restaurant

4.6 (298 reviews)
ModerateEthiopian
Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
Updated over 3 months ago

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Samplers (vegetarian 1 and meat 1)
Amelia D.

I brought my parents here for their first ever experience eating Ethiopian food, and they loved it! We came on a Sunday for an early dinner and so we didn't need a reservation, but since it wasn't huge inside, I'd recommend one if you came at a more popular time. The decor inside is very lovely, really set a nice vibe. The servers were very quick, helpful in answering questions, and very friendly. We started with an order of the samosas, which were very good! Nice crunchy wrapping and flavorful lentils inside. A great way to wake up your palate. Based on the server's recommendation for portion size, we ordered two sampler platters for the three of us to split: one vegetable (yemsir wot, kid gomen, tomatoes) and one meat (dorowot, alicha siga, gomen besiga). They served them on one large platter so we could all eat it family-style, which is one of my fav things about Ethiopian food. The injera was great and they refilled it midway through the meal so we didn't run out. I'll be honest that I never know which dish is what on the sampler, but everything was delicious, both vegetable and meat! Everything was so flavorful and well-spiced without being spicy (because we're not very spice-tolerant people). The meat was tender and the portions of everything were great! Two people could also do it, but we (three) polished off both samplers and were satisfied afterwards. The prices are also very reasonable for a meal, so I'd definitely come back to try more things on the menu.

Doro Wot
Jay S.

Probably my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the entire United States as of now, especially because this place has amazing food, excellent service, and a totally gathering-friendly atmosphere and pure cleanliness. I cannot find a single factor that I wanted tp provide constructive comments about. My entire experience was extremely positive. I really loved the fact that they had a meat sampler that allowed me to have a bit of everything, so I got that, and managed to have a combination of kay siga (beef stew in spicy berbere sauce), goat wot (braised goat stew), gomen bèsiga (seasoned collard greens cookied with beef), mushroom dulet, and timatim salad, all placed on a gigantic piece of injera ready to be feasted! And then of course, the classic doro wot (chicken stew) and alicha siga wot (beef stew in mild curry sauce) are just plain hits, really tasty. The kik wot added a very nice plain flavor that would lower the spice level of both the alicha siga wot and the lamb. Together with some injera, it was simply perfection. I also have never come across the kategna before! Toasted injera coated with berbere and seasoned butter! I have never had injera cooked that way because it was almost like the Ethiopian equivalent of our rice: never eaten alone. But man, it tasted amazing! I would really commend everything! Absolutely amazing food!

Veggie sampler with lamb in the middle
Serena S.

So happy this place is within walking distance to me. I love coming here when I am craving Ethiopian. The interior is slightly more done up than a couple other Ethiopian restaurants that I have been to which is nice depending on what your preference is! The food is as delicious as the other Ethiopian places we have been to - but slightly more expensive for what you get. I was surprised at the portion size of the lamb that we ordered - I was expecting it to be a little bit more considering the price. But everything is always so delicious. The service is also good and the food comes out very quickly usually. Their gin fizz cocktail was also very yummy!

Vegetarian Sampler for 2, Kitfo, spicy beef, and only 3 Injera?!
Yvette 'Divie' E.

Good Ethiopian take out (via Uber eats). 3.75 stars. The first time, I ordered the 3 meat combo, which included the spicy beef stew, greens and beef, and lamb. It was supposed to come with a veggie stew side, but unfortunately it wasn't included in the order so I can't speak to it (Uber eats made it right). I was able to order teff injeera - which is gluten free - for additional charge (so I have to deduct half star for the fee). I'd be careful for anyone who's celiac since they also included non-GF injeera. The second time, I ordered for 4 people including: veg combo, kitfo, and spicy beef. We also ordered 2 teff injeera. Everything tasted good. However, the amount of regular injeera (3) was too small for the amount of food we ordered! We I liked the packaging of the food more than most places, as it can be reheated in the container it arrived in. Generous portions and plenty of meat. Concerned that it's unclear whether the injeera under the stews are GF or not. Based on my experiences, this wouldn't be my first go to Ethiopian spot, but it's still a solid option available for delivery.

Ting Z.

Really solid Ethiopian food! I really appreciate that you're able to customize the meat and vegetarian samplers, and it was a good way to try a lot of different dishes on the menu. Ambiance was pleasant as well. Service could've been a bit more attentive, as we had to flag down our waitress several times, but that was a minor thing.

Vegetable Sampler for 1
Daniel R.

SO GOOD! This Ethiopian food absolutely hit the spot. Tender meat, delicious vegetables, scrumptious injera. YES! Incredible service too. Everyone was so kind! I had a great experience. I'll be back!

Meat and vegetable sampler
Howard G.

Staff was excellent and extremely helpful Food was great. Drinks were good Great location off metro

Sydney G.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city and some of the best Ethiopian food I've ever had! The staff is super friendly and very accommodating and happy to explain anything you have questions about. Love the signature tibs, pretty much all of the veggie and vegan dishes, and of course the lentil samosas. I recommend going with friends so you can try a little bit of everything!!

Yebeg Leba Tibs
Joshua K.

I recently went to Letena after not having gone for several years. I had remembered the food being overpriced and OK from my previous experience. I ordered the Yebeg Leba Tibs to go and for $19.50, I expect a larger portion size. The dish itself was fantastic, extremely spicy as I requested, with tender lamb chunks. If Letena were cheaper, I would order from there at least once every 2-3 months.

C.J. N.

I was waiting for my son and I saw this restaurant. I looked it up in Yelp the ratings looked good but I was still skeptical. I used to go the Meskarem in Adams Morgan back in the 80's/90's and haven't found a place I like as much. Well. I found it. It's absolutely delicious. More expensive than it should be for one meal but it's well seasoned and tasty. I live far away but would travel for this place. Well done.

Cozy ambiance
Jennifer K.

I don't know what it is about the month of January that always leads me to try the best restaurants to ever exist purely by luck, but at least for the remainder of this year, I think it's safe to say that Letena is my new favorite restaurant in DC. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the stunning dining area, which was decorated to perfection, with curated artwork and warm lighting for an intimate feel. Our server was professional and knowledgeable about the food and even gave us recommendations. I ordered the asa tibs, which are fried tilapia with jalapeños, rosemary, and bell peppers. It came with yemisir wot, which is a thick, flavorful red lentil stew that perfectly complemented the crisp asa tibs. One friend ordered the kitfo, a spiced minced beef dish that can be served raw or lightly cooked. It came with house made cottage cheese to balance out the spice and sautéed collard greens. My other friend ordered the Kik Wot, a creamy stew of split yellow peas that reminded me of daal without the overpowering spices, and the beet and potato salad, which was light and refreshing- a perfect addition to some of the heavy dishes on the menu. The injera deserves its own paragraph so I'll start by saying this was the best injera I've tasted so far and other injera will have to pull out all the tricks to wow me because the bar is mad high right now. I especially loved how Letena served it separately from the other dishes, which allowed it to retain its airy, pillowy texture instead of becoming soggy mush after acting merely as a vehicle for serving stews and other toppings, which is how injera is served at other Ethiopian places. In fact, the injera here was so good I was inspired to learn how to make it myself so that I can have an unlimited supply whenever I crave it Overall, each of the dishes we ordered tasted fresh and as nourishing as a home cooked meal. I wasn't ready to be blown away by Letena on a random weekday in January, so if you haven't been here yet, here's your warning that this place is likely to become your next obsession.

Vegetarian Sampler for 2
Sara S.

Great food and service! We got the veggie sampler for 2 people and the portion was super generous. All of the food was delicious and they also gave us plenty of injeera. The restaurant was also really cute on the inside.

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

Got food poisoning from Letena Ethiopian Kay Wot on October 16. I will never go back.

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8 months ago

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7 months ago

We had an amazing time celebrating a birthday. Beyond the obviously delicious food the hospitality was amazing.

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3 years ago

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Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

4.4(902 reviews)
1.6 mi•Shaw, 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!!!!!

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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)
0.9 mi•U 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.

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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)
1.0 mi•U 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!

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Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Seating

Seating

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera!

Injera!

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant - Bar area

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Bar area

Letena Ethiopian Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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