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    Senbeb Cafe

    4.0 (114 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    SENBEB CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Senbeb Cafe

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    Cajun Fried Chicken Potato Salad Greens

    The fried chick'n was soooo good ! I also loved the potato salad. Will definitely revisit.

    BBQ Tofu, Greens, Mac ' N Cheez
    Brieanna I.

    I love the BBQ tofu. Its a nice sweet BBQ sauce with a little bit of a nutty flavor (not sure if there's actually nuts). The Mac and cheese is okay. Sometimes the cheese texture is similar to the texture of glue. I think I'm used to a different style of vegan Mac and cheese like Nu vegan or E life has. The people who work here are always nice and there's an interesting small plant based grocery connected to the restaurant that you can look around while waiting for your food.

    John B.

    This vegan restaurant offers something along the lines of soul food, and I sampled their barbecue tofu. Even the smaller size comes with two side dishes and corn bread, so there's a lot of food for the money. My verdict is largely that my tastes don't coincide with theirs. It turns out I just don't like barbecue sauce that much regardless of what's underneath it; I found it sweet and cloying and in need of hot sauce. The plantains on the side likewise were too sweet and too soft for my taste, and the corn bread conversely not sweet enough and too dry and crumbly; I didn't even finish it, which is rare. It took a solid twenty minutes to get this food; fortunately I wasn't rushing and at least that means they made something fresh. I will say that if I am not the target audience, they seemed to be doing well with locals, including employees of the neighboring school. There's a specific cultural vibe here that doesn't quite work for me; a sense of paranoia (exemplified by the poster they had on display). I'm on board with animal-free food, but I don't really like the alternative medicine and other fringe stuff I get at vegan places sometimes. (Don't get me wrong; I'm open-minded, but I'm not buying that cell phone radiation is killing us until I see some evidence). In any case, the food here was not quite to my taste; I would consider returning for a weekend brunch.

    Sorrell juice
    Meisha C.

    I ran into this quaint restaurant and am already in love with their juice selections. Every juice is fresh and made daily. They have a diverse offering and keeps it interesting in what to choose. When I initially walked by it was packed with people. I quickly came to realize they were friendly and welcoming and it was because this was their community and Senbeb is a part of their community space/home. Needless to say they welcomed me right in and made me feel right at home. The staff answered my endless questions about their juice and how they process and I was so pleased with my juice I know I'll be back to buy several more!

    Crab 'cake' with coleslaw, yams, and whoopie pie
    Susan M.

    Senbeb Cafe is a local joint that I had been meaning to try since moving here seven years ago, and I am glad I went before we move on! I had stopped in once for some water on a walk, and it smelled amazing, but sometimes it is hard to persuade my household to try vegan/vegetarian food. On a recent Sunday it was just me, the Colonel, and the Sprossling to please and we Yelped the local places. The many good Yelp reviews for Senbeb helped to seal the deal. We walked over and ordered from the pleasant lady at the front, and then went to sit in the backyard space (feels like a picnic spot more than a patio) and wait. I know some reviews say the wait is long, but it seemed reasonable to us. I ordered the 'fried chicken' with mac n cheese and kale on the side, a small. Everything comes with cornbread as well, I believe. The Sprossling ordered the fried Portobello mushroom, and she asked if he wanted rice (and cornbread) and he had potato salad and mixed greens as well. Finally the Colonel had 'crab' cakes with coleslaw and yams, so we all got to try almost everything out. The Sprossling also got a whoopie pie as well. We all ordered 'the small' and portions were huge, and there was a ton of food. Everyone took at least half their dinner home (where it did get consumed!). Of the entrees I would vote the crab number one, the mushrooms number two, and my chicken the last. However, this was not the consensus! The chicken was good and they did an excellent job approximating the texture, and the accompanying mambo sauce helped, but what can I say, the 'crab' cake was better. All of the sides were good. The Sprossling brought up the mixed greens apropos of nothing yesterday, so those are memorable. Solid potato salad, solid mac and cheese. The kale was ok but nothing special. The coleslaw was probably my least favorite. Al in all everyone was happy and I would 100% go there again, hopefully before another seven years passes!

    Cam A.

    I went to Senbeb and ordered the "Cheesesteak " sandwich. Oh my goodness... it is so delicious. It tastes BETTER than an actual steak sandwich. As a side I ordered the mac and cheese and fries. The mac and cheese could be better--it tasted very artificial and not like other vegan mac's I've tasted (at other vegan soul food restaurants). Fries were crispy and delicious. I can't wait to come back and try something new

    Goat curry, cabbage and callaloo
    Shauna B.

    The food here is excellent and very affordable. Jerk chicken was moist and had the right kick, goat curry was falling off the bone good, flavorful cabbage, juicy collard greens and tangy fresh squeezed juice. Their food is five stars, but their systems could use some work -- there's no menu on the wall, they run out of lots of items but don't have any signs about what they are out of, and their trays have no labels letting you know what is an entree vs a side. If you can handle this chaos, you'll get an excellent meal.

    Drumsticks and vegetable roll
    Keisha S.

    Service matters and the service here is A1. Peaceful and calm environment with great energy and food. Definitely coming back. Then I went back and this is officially my go to spot now.

    Country fried chik'n sandwich with a side salad
    Katherine L.

    This place is so low key, and it is quite out of the way from DC hustle and bustle. However, it's worth the journey if you are patient and don't mind the close quarters. The food is all vegan and all good. The menu changes, but there are always a good number of choices for a variety of palates. They also have dessert from Vegan Treats (YES PLEASE) and raw choices. So, going here, you can get just about every aspect of your vegan palate's predilections satiated. The hard part is to figure out what you will actually order - the one of each doesn't fly too well if you don't want to weigh 500 pounds. So, go with a group of people, then you can try more! The cornbread is excellent, and you can add it on as a side to anything. Yes, the mac and cheese is good, but I have to say, it is not as good as I had hoped it would be. I just have a preference for some other local vegan mac n cheeses. Still, it's good. The raw food is great - but, don't knock raw until you try it. It is pricier, and it is very similar to offerings at Khepra's and Woodlands. Just as good, but in a plastic container. The savory dinner items and sandwiches are standard fare, but the portions are generous. So, maybe don't eat it all, or you will feel guilty afterwards? Remember, vegan food is not always healthy, low-calorie. It's great for many reasons, but don't presume it's super healthy low fat and low sodium! It's fantastic food, though, so it's worth it. The brunch items cause great lines and require great patience, but the food is worth it. These pancakes may be my favorite blueberry vegan pancakes in the DC area. They are light and fluffy and huge!!!!! They are bargain-priced! That's my brunch recommendation. The omelet is good with the veggies, but the texture isn't my fav. The grits are tasty, but nothing extraordinary. Oh, and the biscuits may be my favorite vegan biscuits in DC, too!!! YUM. Flour and fat and salt - goooood eating!!! Go here hungry, and you will leave full! Very conducive to take-out given the small seating area.

    Barbecue Rib Sandwich
    Cierra K.

    The presence and welcoming could have been so much better. If you are not a regular you are not really acknowledge. As far as the soul food reference, I did not see nor taste it. The food did not hold true to the menu or descriptions. I saw some customers get their food and the servings just didn't make sense. One person paid $75 and she walked away with one bag and still had some of her food missing. I tried the Cajun Fried Chicken - not really fried, taste more like old oil and no seasoning. I tried the Lemon Fried Shrimp - nothing lemon and the batter fell off. I tried the Macaroni and Cheese - it reminded me of elementary school's version on a bad day. I am not a Vegan (Pescatarian) but my Mother is and I enjoy sharing the plant based journey with her. However, I see why she was so disappointed with our visit. Senbeb did not WOW us the way we expected, especially after reading some of the reviews. To each their own, this was definitely a hit and miss. I will pass on trying Senbeb again.

    Rah D.

    Wow. What a surprise. This is a place you might miss driving. It is definitely a place you will drive to on purpose. I drove 30 minutes for crab cakes, potato salad, collard greens, yams and corn bread. All was tasty. The yams are not full of that syrupy sugar sauce that soul food chefs love to drown them in. The crabcakes are tasty, but slightly salty. All in all a good bet!

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    6 years ago

    Great little vegan spot with friendly service! Love love love the cheesesteak and will definitely be going here again.

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    2 years ago

    tofu spinach wrap had no flavored & to much sauce. lentil soup was thick & lacked flavor.

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    Henry's Soul Cafe - Baked Turkey

    Henry's Soul Cafe

    3.9(297 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $

    This place serves all your traditional soul food. They got beans, greens, potatoes, tomatoes,…read morelambs, rams, hogs, dogs, chicken, turkeys, rabbits, you name it. Well, they don't have rabbits, rams, or lambs, but you get the picture. This is a little carryout restaurant just outside the downtown area. There is metered street parking on the road out front and within a reasonable walking distance. They do not have a dining area. This is a carryout-only place. I was on a tight schedule, so I ordered online ahead of time. I scheduled my order for pickup at 5. They have music playing on a little speaker, and the woman working there was friendly. I ordered the beef ribs with a side of mac and cheese and collard greens. I got an additional side of cornbread stuffing. I arrived at 5, and my food was not ready. It was not even prepared until I got there. I did not get out of there until about 520, mind you; I had pre-scheduled a 5 PM pickup. The food traveled well and was delicious. I loved every item. They were all so flavorful. It was also a ton of food. The stuffing was really good. The ribs were amazing, and the collard greens were just like Mom used to make. And the mac and cheese was fire. I really enjoyed my meal here. I highly recommend checking this place out and look forward to going back there real soon. They have some of the best soul food that I have ever had. It would have easily been a 5-star joint if my order had been ready at the scheduled time.

    So, really wanted some "Ancestor food" (Chitterings). Now, if you know, you know; they can't be…read morepurchased just "anywhere." After walking in (take-out only), and seeing that there were six people waiting for their food, I was convinced, this place CAN be trusted. So, staff, really nice. Informative, hospitable, and accommodating. As indicated, exclusively "Take-out," so not much attention given to aesthetics. All those waiting raved about the food. People there have been patronizing the restaurant for decades. Again, very good sign. Ordered chitterlings, potato salad, and collard greens. Initially thought $30.00 was a bit much, given I'd NEVER eaten chitterlings "out," BUT, thought about what it actually requires, and quickly changed my mind. The price point is fine. Everything was delicious. Everything. Including the Cornbread. Given I know how to cook, there were obviously some things I would have done differently. That doesn't even matter, this place is my "Soul Food" "go-to." If they can do chitterlings well, they can do anything. I can't wait to try everything else on the menu. I highly recommend.

    Photos
    Henry's Soul Cafe
    Henry's Soul Cafe - Fried Whiting with Mac & cheese and Greens

    Fried Whiting with Mac & cheese and Greens

    Henry's Soul Cafe - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food - Smothered pork chop and Steak and Cheese Sub

    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food

    4.2(64 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    When I walked into Johnny Rays, I was quickly greeted by the owner who is very involved in the…read morerestaurant. I ordered through DoorDash and was able to pick it up fresh. I ordered 2 whiting plates. One with collard greens with smoked turkey and fries and the other with Mac n cheese and rice and gravy. The fries were good. The whiting was fried to perfection. I also like the greens (I'm a southerner so I'm a bit hard to please). Everything was reasonably priced. The restaurant had nice music playing and has a bit of a lounge feel with the dark walls. It wasn't crowded on a Friday during lunch time. I'd go back for sure.

    Ordered take out from Johnny Ray's. My food was ready quicker than it took me to get there. The…read morerestaurant is located on a street that has some auto businesses across from it. There is some parking in front and there is a parking garage that is within walking distance. I ordered wings and a meatloaf platter that came with two sides. I ordered lemon pepper and the sticky wings. The wings were crispy but lacked the lemon pepper flavor. I wish the stinky wings had more of the sauce on them. The meatloaf was seasoned well. You could get smothered with gravy or their bbq sauce. For my sides I ordered the greens and mashed potatoes with gravy. The greens were seasoned well. I don't know if I would go back, simply because it was really far out for me. If you are in the area I would say am check it out. The staff and service was amazing.

    Photos
    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food - Indoor seating

    Indoor seating

    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food
    Johnny Ray's Sultry Soul Food - Inside

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    Inside

    Oohh's and Aahh's - Turkey wings meal

    Oohh's and Aahh's

    3.8(466 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    10/10!!!. The food is amazing here! I had catfish, collard greens, mac and cheese and crinkle…read morefries. My spouse had the honey hot chicken, waffle, grits and whipped sweet potatoes. Every dish was 5 stars. I usually don do reviews but I had to for this experience! Our host Landin was very pleasant. I've heard it said that if the locals are hanging out in the restaurant then the food is good. The locals are definitely here! We are out of towners! This will be out spot when we return.

    This spot is the Master P's of great eats, make them say oohh, ahh, ahh, ahh, ahh. Anyways, the…read moreatmosphere, ambiance, food, and service were stellar here at the Georgia Ave. location. My grilled chicken was moist, flavorful, and cooked very well. The fried catfish was not too salty and had great balance where you can taste the fish. The mac and cheese, cabbage, and green beans were all of nice quality, the weakest link is the potato salad, however that is a dish that can be complicated for different restaurants to get the hang of, fortunately I can prepare some awesome potato salad myself. The peach half and half drinks were balanced perfectly well not too sugary and sweet. I swear some of these places make drinks way too sweet and you want to check your insulin levels. The server was highly attentive and a great conversationalist and paid attention to our wants and needs and had superb professionalism and a strong work ethic. He was hospitable and accommodating. The staff was friendly and approachable. We had fun and enjoyed this more than Milk and Honey and even Carolina Kitchen. DC keeps gentrifying and losing its soul, but there are still some hidden gems around. This spot blends in with the Walmart, and funnily enough I have driven past here a gazillion of times and assumed it was some bakery or another spot and did not know it was a soul food joint, something DC has been minimizing and pushing out to Maryland like the city always does. I think it is masterful that they use clear plastic containers for their food making it easier for the staff as that can be expensive and time consuming with the dish washing/prep, sound economical move. It is nice that the business (U Street etc. location) has been in the DMV for over 20 years and expanded to Baltimore in Fells Point. I think Baltimore will like this spot! This felt authentic and soulful in a way that I had not experienced in the city in quite some time, as the city has had a lot of restaurants be sterile, bland, flavorless, and catered to certain demographics while completely ignoring others. I liked the soundtrack with R&B and was able to hear some TLC on the soundtrack which was very nostalgic and a throwback to DC before the gentrification when it was truly Chocolate City! Overall, it is a spot that you can visit more than once certainly not a one and done like a lot of restaurants that lack service, food, and ambiance/vibe.

    Photos
    Oohh's and Aahh's - Dining room

    Dining room

    Oohh's and Aahh's - Turkey Plate

    Turkey Plate

    Oohh's and Aahh's - Titos strawberry lemonade

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    Titos strawberry lemonade

    Oohh's & Aahh's - Crispy Chicken Wings, 8 (Mumbo sauce) , greens, and yams

    Oohh's & Aahh's

    3.4(1.7k reviews)
    3.4 miU Street Corridor
    $$

    Man what can I say?…read more They really came through for me with a great meal! I ordered the turkey wings with collards and cabbage via UberEats because it was crazy hot outside. The food came really fast. It was hot! It was flavorful. Great portions too! For a decent price too! It was outstanding! I'd order from them again. If the weather stays like this it may be sooner!

    Overall: 5/5 - Will be back! Def top 3 soul food spots for me…read more Food: 5/5 - Wings (w/ mumbo sauce) was BANGINGGGG. The crunch was just how I like them and it was the perfect amount of sauce on the wings. The mumbo sauce was really good as well, because as we all know...everybody do not have good mumbo sauce lol -Whipped yams was A-mazing because this is how I like to eat my yams. They were not too sweet to me and I don't really eat sweets anymore, so I was expecting them to possibly be overly sweet for my palate but they were perfect. -Collard Greens were great as well. Really good flavor. They do have a small kick to them though, but it's manageable and I ate them all. I really don't like spicy foods so on the spice level I give it a 1/5 which is a good thing. If you do like a kick to your greens then you will love them, but if you do not like spicy at all I'd say skip it. Service: 5/5 I had my food delivered and everyone's order was correct when it arrive and was neatly packaged

    Photos
    Oohh's & Aahh's - Cute Sign

    Cute Sign

    Oohh's & Aahh's - Meatloaf

    Meatloaf

    Oohh's & Aahh's - Outside

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    Outside

    Senbeb Cafe - vegetarian - Updated September 2026

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