We just enjoyed an amazing meal at Enatye this evening. We have lived here for 34 years and never…read morethought to try it. Boy...was that a big mistake!! We started our meal with the vegetable Sambusa. The wrapper was perfectly crispy, not greasy and, while flaky, didn't fall apart. The dipping sauce that accompanied was a perfect spicy complement to the lentil filling. A great way to get your tastebuds ready for the main event! For our entree, we went with the Special Combo for two with beef and chicken/doro wot. We allowed our helpful waiter to select the vegetables, and he did a great job. We enjoyed the yellow peas, spicy lentils, cabbage, spinach, scooping it all up with the sour injera bread. The service is excellent and the music makes the meal complete! We will be back soon to try more of the menu. This restaurant is a Herndon gem. I would give six stars if I could. Don't be stupid, like us, and wait too long to try it!! Go now!

Silver Spring has no shortage of great Ethiopian restaurants, but I had Enatye in Herndon…read morebookmarked for a while after hearing so many good things. When we finally found ourselves in the area, I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. We ordered the veggie combo, and it was flavorful and satisfying.What really made this place stand out, though, was the customer service. We ordered takeout, and after getting home about 40 minutes later, we realized part of our order was wrong. I called expecting the usual response--either that I should've checked the bag before leaving or that I'd need to drive back for a replacement. Instead, I got a genuine apology and an offer for a full refund. Since we still had food to eat, I didn't feel right accepting it. They insisted on making it up to us the next time we were in the area. True to their word, on our next visit they treated us to the same veggie combo on the house. You don't see that level of follow-through very often, and it really left an impression. That's how you earn loyal customers. Big shoutout to Emmanuel for taking such great care of us. We're looking forward to coming back.

This is an interesting restaurant because it serves both Ethiopian food and Central American food…read more When you enter the restaurant, you immediately sense that food is the focus here, not the décor or ambience. Latin music was blasting, and later the TV switched to a soccer game, all in Spanish. We tried a 4-dish combo and a fish dish, all very good - tasty, complex flavors. We also enjoyed the bread (injera, like sourdough bread in flavor) and the rice that comes with the dishes. This is my first time trying Ethiopian food. It reminds me of Indian food with the uses of lots of similar spices and the complex stew dishes. Our server was nice and checked on us frequently. I also got to practice my Duolingo Spanish with him--most of it was lost in translation. It was a fun experience. The fish dish was my favorite.

I tend to not like Ethiopian food but this one was actually very delicious. I would actually come…read moreback again.

Nazareth Market at 2341 Dulles Station Blvd Apt 9, Herndon, VA 20171…read more Please note there are multiples of these same types of stores in this complex with the storefronts of the street. I chose the one that I felt the most comfortable with at the time. Which I was walking ‍by and looked inside and saw some tasty treats sitting on the shelf and decided to try them out. The wonderful lady working the store was very inviting, warm-hearted and I instantly fell at home. It is very good meeting people like this, the kind that make you feel appreciated when you step into their establishment. I knew what the other pastry was it was a samosa . I had to look up the second treat that I bought. What is Ethiopian baklava? Baklava (/bklv, bklv/, or /bklv/) is a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with either syrup or honey. Unfortunately but fortunately I bought every single one that she had lol Overall this was a most beautiful experience They did have food offered that she was cooking fresh. If you are definitely looking for an Ethiopian style home cooked meal. This is your location. I wish the owner of this establishment Peace , Health , Wealth and giving Gratitude Always

One of the things I was most excited to get my hands on when I came back to the east coast was some…read moregood Ethiopian food so I was excited to find this place conveniently located across from me. From the outside you would never guess that there is some amazing home cooked food waiting on the other side of the door. If you don't know what to order I would highly recommend the awaze tibs! Amazing rich flavor with some great spice. The woman who cooks the food was incredibly friendly as well. Can't wait to come back for more!

It was our first time going, and we just loved it. We had the vegan platter, with so many wonderful…read morebeans, lentils, and veggies to sample, spectacular injera bread, and lentil samosas as an appetizer. What a fabulous meal with such a rich array of flavors. And the folks who work there are lovely. We really enjoyed it and are excited to have a new favorite restaurant.

Came with two other people Wednesday evening and ordered the Sambusa Lentils as an appetizer,…read morefollowed by Large Vegetarian Sampler and Awaze tips. The Sambusa (triangle pastry) was very good. Filled with lentils with a little spicy kick. Accompanied with a diced hot pepper relish, which was very good. We enjoyed the Awaze tips, beef tips sautéed in a spicy sauce. The vegetarian platter also was good. A couple of the items were less impressive than the others (I really liked the greens and green beans), but overall a solid platter. Plenty to eat for the three of us - we couldn't finish everything. The injera bread was legit. And we were served a good serving of them with our platter. We were there the evening before Thanksgiving, and there were no other eat-in customers. While we were there, two take-out orders were picked up. The restaurant is a bit dark. Decent music playing through the sound system - not too loud.

I am not Ethiopian but I have visited this restaurant a few times and have heard and been…read morerecommended this restaurant by other Ethiopians who say that the food here is good & it is! I always have a great experience here and enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant with the big screens to watch sports. This is where I tried tere siga (raw meat) for the first time and had a pleasant experience that I can now say I know how to eat it. I have had their tere siga, goden tibs, kitfo, asa goulash, and regular tibs. All very flavorful and items I would come back to order again. Their coffee is also great and poured out of a jebena like how it is traditionally and should be made. The customers that love this restaurant will not normally go out of their way to write a review, but seeing some of the negative reviews I needed to post one of my own.

Review I ordered…read moregluten-free injera with my vegetable and fish dulet meal and was charged extra for the gluten-free injera. However, they gave me regular injera instead, which I cannot eat. To make matters worse, the vegetables were placed directly on top of the injera. When I called to explain the mistake, the woman I spoke with was extremely rude. She essentially told me, "Too bad, I can't do anything about it," and then hung up on me. I tried calling back several times, but now the phone is simply off the hook. I just wasted $52 on food I cannot eat, and the customer service was completely unacceptable. I would not recommend this restaurant based on this experience.

I'm a bit surprised that ENAT Ethiopian restaurant isn't busier…read more What it does have going against it: -parking isn't always easy -it's a bit out of the way -it's not the prettiest place. What it has going for it: -solidly good food; Ethiopians eat here -good prices (value for money) Granted, I'm here late, but I'm surprised it's as empty as it is. If you like Ethiopian food, give this place a try and let me know if you agree.

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.

Decided to come to Ikon and try out their food with a friend, after hearing they had good Ethiopian…read morefood. They also are a hookah lounge if anyone is interested in that as well. The Food: After browsing their small food menu, my friend and I shared a platter. We went with the "Veggie Combo" and the "Awaze Tibs". The flavor and seasoning on both the veggies and meats were absolutely delicious! The veggies were cooked well and the meats were tender and juicy. Pairing all of that with some Injera absolutely hit the spot. The Service: Service was great! The staff here were very friendly and attentive. I didn't use the Hookah, but they were very attentive with checking up on my friend to see if everything was good with her. Overall, a very good experience. The Atmosphere: The space is a little plain as of now, but from what I understand they recently just opened. The overall decor could be better, as it is kind of dark with minimal lighting. But not a bad spot if you are there for the food and lounge. Overall, a 4/5. Food was delicious and from what I've heard from my friend, the drinks and hookah were great as well. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area!

A small hookah bar in a plaza. Very dark with a warm ambiance and a small bar…read more Ordered to go, and felt that while it was freshly cooked to order, it did not come with the salad and sauce that would've made this dish better. Also did not see a single jalapeño slice in this dish.

I waited another year to try Bole Bole and I was hoping they had a year to get their dishes right…read more The food was so greasy, the oil was black oil that did not look right. I worry that this restaurant will scare away non Ethiopian customers who will judge Ethiopian food by what's being served here. I encourage the restaurant to get it right or just have the bar. Our family also got sick the first time we ate here. I also want to call out that the kik Alicha and the yello cabbage is off as another customer said, there color is off, it's too mushy and probably old. How can you go wrong with Cabbage?

Bole Bole is a very comfortable atmosphere to relax and unwind after a long day…read more When you walk in, the air conditioning is nice and cool accompanied by soft music and comfortable seating. The couches have a USB connection to charge your phone which is nice to have if you are staying for a while. Lately they have had live music (jazz) on Saturday nights occasionally. The staff (Israel, Mika and Anu) are very friendly and welcoming. I like to start out with a few beers, then order some food. My favorite dish is called Derek Tibs (Tibs means "sautéed meat" in the Amharic language). This consists of small cubes of beef cooked well done which results in the edges being slightly charred, which gives it a very tasty flavor along with a good texture that is slightly crunchy. Derek Tibs also comes with peppers and onions and rice on the side. It comes out smoking, sizzling hot on a cast iron skillet. I've tried Awaze tibs which is ok, but the Derek Tibs is definitely the best in my opinion. The ratings on Yelp doesn't reflect Bole Bole accurately. As of now, Yelp only shows a rating of 3.8 based only 21 reviews, whereas Google Reviews shows a rating of 4.9 based on more than 1,100 reviews. Therefore, Google Reviews provides a more statistically significant result than Yelp does. You might want to read over those reviews to get additional opinions. If you haven't been to Bole Bole, give it a try. The atmosphere is very relaxing.

I have passed by this place many of times the past few years and kept telling myself that maybe…read moreI'll try it out sometime but never have until last night. I am very glad I did! I have always gone to Enat a couple miles down the road the past few years, but it was always unpredictable how it would be. Sometimes the food and service was fantastic, other times it was Ok, and last month it was awful...so last night when we were craving Ethiopian food, we decided to try Monarch. The service was absolutely fantastic and the food was amazing! The two of us ordered the vegetarian combo and I don't remember what meat/tibs because we asked the server which one she recommended and went with that. The food was definitely better than a couple other Ethiopian places I have been to in the area and the portion was generous! I almost thought we accidentally ordered a double portion of meat because it was a much bigger portion than I received from other places. I had leftovers for later that night and again today. The food was a little bit longer of a wait than I expected, but to me that just means they are making it from scratch and that it is fresh. The bill came to around $30 before tip which is quite a deal for that much food of great quality. The service was also very good with our server being friendly and attentive. Not only that, two other workers there...maybe the owner or chef (I'm not sure) dropped by to check on how we were and how the food was. If they keep this up, watch out Enat and other Ethiopian places in the area. You have some competition from Monarch!

Wife called the order in and I picked it up…read more Had a little confusion with the new name change to Monarch Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar but once I realized the address was the same I went in through the front door. They have outdoor covered seating on a patio area and two people tables against the building. (There was a strong smell of cigarette smoke and a few men sitting on the patio; not sure if they were smoking but there were ashtrays one the outside two person tables). Food was ready and the employee was very nice and informed me the restaurant name changed since they were now serving hard liquor; so that's awesome for the future after the pandemic! The area appeared very clean and pretty spacious. The food smelled so good in the car ride home! We got the awaze beef and lamb tibs and both were good but the beef really hit the craving!! The meal came with a small salad and some sauce (not spicy) and the best part was the food being served on top of the injera so it didn't leave a giant sauce mess in the plastic bag or my car! Yay!! Since our favorite Ethiopian place in Alexandria closed this is going to fill the void!! Can't wait to come back and try more items!

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!