Terrific meal and will be back again. Kitfo was a star and the greens were stellar. Braised lamb…read morewas another excellent protein. Red lentils were super. Service was efficient, very helpful, and friendly.

First of all, if you are going for the first time, make sure u check the name as this strip mall is…read morefilled with Ethiopian restaurants. And the restaurant number should be verified until the last alphabet. The restaurant is cozy with a small bar and room enough for probably 50 people including the bar. My wife and I tried the VIP platter at the chefs recommendation. The platter comes with Chicken and Beef with 6 veg side dishes over an Injera. U also get 4 injeras with the platter. As a first timer, the portion looked big for two folks. The food was not spicy as we thought it might be. The beef and chicken was good but the side dishes were awesome

They have this warm cozy ambiance with a fake fireplace. When they do the coffee ceremony, you can…read moresmell incense. They have a shared parking lot. It's fairly quiet in here if you want an intimate dinner. We got the Shiro (Chickpea powder soup) Veggie Combo BK Tibs Yeshi Salad Derek Tibs Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. The injera was spicy but I couldn't even handle the salad so that says how weak I'm. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony so interesting to see. How they roast the beans to get this rich taste and we drank it after our meal. If you're wanting to try authentic Ethiopian food, come here! The service was bit slow but we did have 10 people basically ordering the entire menu and made it a feast.

The food was wonderful! Excellent flavor!! The special Kitfo is awesome and they have a light teff…read moreenjera that's really nice. They serve it with traditional cheese, spinach and a small mix of both that by far the best option. Their Awaze tibs is also yummy! The atmosphere is midday cafe, large comfy booths, rustic but chic hanging fixtures, on a tree trunks with rope, a little incense burning in background, lots of natural sunlight. Great place to work for lunch or go for dinner. They have a bar and TVs around the pale yellow walls with vaulted ceilings and lots of greenery! Great calming energy The pic below is what was left of our Awaze tibs because it was too good, we devoured it! Do come here and don't forget to order their traditional tea steeped with cardamom, ginger and other spices!

I brought my mom and her old neighbors here. I had completely forgotten that I had actually been…read morehere before, but then to my surprise, I saw my old review for this place! So the food tonight was absolutely fantastic. We received great recommendations from our server, who reliably informed us that just one veggie platter would be plenty for us, plus a couple of meat dishes. Her recommendations were spot on, and all of us were extremely satisfied. Ameseginalehu!

The food we got here was great! We ordered the veggies with fish combo and gored gored (cubed…read moremarinated raw meat), which were both fantastic. There was ample food for the 3 of us and the perfect amount of injera provided. Like many of the other reviewers noted, it can get pretty busy (nearly all tables were full at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night) and so service was quite slow. We also didn't get our food for an hour or so. Something to note as well: they have a hookah lounge directly next door, and the restaurant is not sound proof. There was an event going on when we went so it was quite loud.

Service is not that exciting but the ambiance is cool and the food was really good!…read moreMy friend ordered the Kitfo and wait it was the best he's ever had in the US. He came from Ethiopia not too long ago. That's a huuuge complement! I got the BK tibs which was so tender and juicy! We both had plenty of leftover and we're pretty satisfied!

Great food, location, and environment. They can improve portions, would have loved more for the…read moreprice.

A friend who was visiting from out of town wanted to try Ethiopian food for the first time and…read morereceived a recommendation by one of her mutual friends who is Ethiopian. I've never heard of this restaurant before and is your local hole-in-the-wall place. Be forewarned though, during my experience -- the parking lot was chaotic. I've not driven to this area of NoVA before; this is worse than driving around the Seven Corners intersection. It took me 35 minutes to find parking by circling the lot and is not for the faint of hard, so be prepared. I'm not sure why the parking lot was so packed when we went for dinner though was relieved when I finally got to take a seat inside. I've had Ethiopian food before though compared to the other places I've dined at, presentation wise -- I noticed that the combo plate is served inside dishware instead of directly on the injera itself and served on a large silver platter. Unlike other places, Birndo gives you the option to choose your preference (American vs Ethiopian). I've not been offered a choice at previous Ethiopian restaurants, though enjoyed the fact that two options exist. We opted for both and found that the Ethiopian was more fermented while the American version was milder. I enjoyed the Ethiopian injera, so if you like a more "sour"/fermented bread, go for this option. This is also the first time that I've had raw meat prepared in this way and enjoyed the spices. For a table of four, we opted for the items below and we still had leftovers. All items we ordered were delicious with my favorites including the gored gored and shiro wat. Careful though if you cannot take spice and one of friends found that the gored gored was too spicy. Meanwhile, I thought it was perfect. +Birndo Combo -- clockwise -- gomen bisega (collared greens), kifto (finely chopped ground beef mixed with Ethiopian herbal butter (kibe), cardamom (korerima), spicy chili powder (mitmita), lega tibs (lean beef or lamb diced and cooked in a special mild sauce, Ethiopian herbal butter, onion, tomato and garlic), gored gored (raw cubed beef lightly heated with Ethiopian chili powder (berbere) and Ethiopian herbal butter (kibe) +Shiro Wat (not pictured) -- chickpea stew

This spot came highly recommended by our Ethiopian friends, so we basically had no choice but to…read moremake the pilgrimage (our subconscious had already registered that it was going to hit and hit it did). It's definitely a trek from DC, but we showed up with confident strides and zero regrets. I came with friends and we were genuinely shook in the best way. The food was incredible, and everyone was so hospitable. The Ethiopian folks sitting next to us even offered us a taste of their Kitfo (raw beef). We politely declined since we had our own order on the way, but the gesture was so kind it honestly made the whole experience feel even warmer. Our waitress was also super friendly and guided us through what to order. We got the kitfo, which is served by the pound. Since it was our first time, we followed the waitress's recommendation and went for a mix of fatty pieces and red meat. We also got the Birnado Combo and it was hefty. And when I say hefty, I mean HEFTYY because I've never actually seen Ethiopian food this packed before. We also had enough leftovers to make another meal out of it. Absolutely delicious, and easily the kind of meal that makes you start planning your return trip before you've even left. My friend also mentioned that he will never see NYC Ethiopian food the same way again. 5/5 experience and would 100% go again.

One of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants in the area. The food is always really tasty, and the…read morestaff is nice and friendly. I typically get a vegetarian combo and it always tastes delicious. On one visit, the owner stopped by our table and explained how Ethiopian food is typically eaten, which was such a thoughtful touch and really nice to learn. Overall, it's a great spot and one I'm always happy to come back to.

Promising First Visit, Let Down the Second Time - Wish There is a Negative Rating…read moreDec 2025 * Friends I wish there was negative rating!!! This was my second visit to Enat Kitfo, and unfortunately, it was completely different from my first -- in a very disappointing way. The first time, I happened to be in the neighborhood and searched for an Ethiopian restaurant nearby. I decided to try Enat Kitfo because it was nearby, and I was genuinely impressed. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the server was kind and attentive. The owner even came to greet me, checked on my dish while I was eating, and made me feel welcomed. It was such a positive experience that I shared it with others and looked forward to coming back with my family. Because of that great first impression, I drove more than an hour for my second visit, this time with a friend who had just arrived from back home. We came around 6:00 PM, during the Eagles vs. Lions game in the 4th quarter -- it should have been a great evening. Unfortunately, the experience could not have been more different. The waitress was kind but inexperienced and had to ask the owner about everything. When the owner came out, he appeared unwelcoming and dismissive, which was surprising given how well he treated me during my first visit. As an Ethiopian who has lived in the Washington, DC area for a long time, this interaction reminded me of the old Ethiopian restaurant culture of the 1980s and 1990s, when Ethiopian customers were often treated poorly, while customers from other countries were treated as masters -- even though Ethiopia has never been colonized. Thankfully, competition have improved customer service standards over the years, which made this experience especially disappointing. We ordered Cotlet (fish) and Tsom Beyaynetu aka Veggie (Combo). The Cotlet (fish) was delicious, well prepared and enjoyable. However, it arrived without the combo. We waited, assuming the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) would follow, but no one checked on us. I eventually went to the bar to ask about it. The owner's response was simply "" (okay), with no concern or apology. When the combo finally arrived, it was delivered as if nothing had gone wrong. While the fish was very good, the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) -- which I had truly enjoyed during my first visit -- lacked flavor this time. There were many items on the plate, but none stood out as good. No one came back to check on us, and even ordering drinks required me to go to the bar myself. Overall, the service was extremely poor, worse than many Ethiopian restaurants from decades ago. With so many good Ethiopian dining options available today, I will not be returning. I truly want Ethiopian-owned businesses to succeed and flourish. However, I am accustomed to the American service standard and vote with my wallet. I do not accept neglect or disrespect as a customer. I hope this feedback is taken constructively so future customers are treated better and the business can improve. I wish Enat Kitfo the best, but without meaningful changes in service and consistency, it will be difficult to succeed in today's competitive environment.

Rebka was great! Very warming and inviting energy. Quick and helpful service. And dishes were…read moredelicious.

The food here is one of the best in terms of Ethiopian food in the very competitive northern…read moreVirginia Ethiopian food scene. There is no shortage of Ethiopian families and couples who come to enjoy a meal here even on weeknights and definitely during Ethiopian holy days. The chef can be seen through a kitchen window preparing the meats. A long bar is in the back half of the restaurant as well as a cafe cum stage. The kitfo (minced beef traditionally raw) is the speciality here, and it really shows. Very friendly and welcoming service . The food here is one of the best in terms of Ethiopian food in the very competitive northern Virginia Ethiopian food scene. There is no shortage of Ethiopian families and couples who come to enjoy a meal here even on weeknights and definitely during Ethiopian holy days. The chef can be seen through a kitchen window preparing the meats. A long bar is in the back half of the restaurant as well as a cafe cum stage. The kitfo (minced beef traditionally raw) is the speciality here, and it really shows. Very friendly and welcoming service .

This restaurant is one of my favorites... if you are vegetarian/ vegan like me try their veg combo…read moreorder the 8 sides and share it with a friend...it's enough to feed two people . Amazing Ethiopian food

Ethiopian breakfast was delicious. Since it was my first time, I got the combo breakfast so I could…read moretry a little of everything. It was great. My server was so nice and patient in describing the types of dishes for me. Of course I had to get coffee, it was excellent. Very modern interior and I got a nice spot at the window. I really enjoyed grabbing my bite while my car was being serviced nearby. Don't stay in the service lobby, wait here instead. Much better atmosphere here.

Skyline Cafe is really more like Skyline Lounge, but the atmosphere was lively and friendly…read more I ordered the bozena shero, which was beef tips cooked in a buttery tomato sauce served on a platter lined with tangy, spongy injera bread. I also had the collard greens on the side, which were cooked surprisingly much like we eat them in Georgia. Of course, a plate of injera was provided for dipping up the food. It was all delicious. The staff and other patrons were all very friendly. Apparently they were not only used to serving good food but warm hospitality, as well.

They gave me a menu that said "Lunch & Dinner" with the price of Lega Tibs -- $13.99. Then when I…read moregot the bill it was $22 -- I asked why the $8 difference. First she said in it was the price for lunch then she said it was new owners and they hadn't changed the menu. On the bill it didn't even list the name of the item -- just said "Custom Item" so she could charge whatever she wanted. I feel like they just purposely stole money from me thinking I wouldn't say anything.

What a great discovery! My husband and i are usually skeptical about trying new Ethiopian…read morerestaurants and love sticking to what we know- home cooked food or our other favorite spot. But I am so glad we decided to check Ambassel out with our visiting guest !!! Beautifully decorated with authentic Ethiopian artifacts, Ambassel also has really good food! We had sizzling tibs and kitfo and nothing was left on our plate after 10 minutes! If you like authentic Ethiopian food, this spot should definitely be on your list of eateries to check out!

I've Always been skeptical about trying other Ethiopian food, and I should always trust my…read moreinstincts. This food was terrible, overpriced, and he touched my food with a glove that I'm not sure was totally sanitized.