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

I came to Enjera for dinner and the food was delicious. Everything was seasoned to perfection and…read moreour server was really nice. We ordered the vegetarian sampler mixed with the meat sampler. My favorite parts of the meal were the chicken and lamb. It was a warm day so we sat on the back patio, which had good background music and curated a great vibe. I definitely suggest outside seating if it's a nice day when you try!

I've been a customer here for a few years, I have mixed thoughts about this place…read more Nestled in the heart of the Aurora Highlands 23rd street restaurant strip, Enjera is a quaint, cutely-decorated eatery, adorned with paintings by Ethiopian artists, the city skyline of Addis Ababa, and framed French/Italian wine adverts. It's eclectic and encapsulates an element of the immigrant experience in how it's decorated. Likewise, despite three stars, I do keep coming back because the food is quite superb. Always flavorful and with a decent variety of traditional dishes on offer. Their veggie combo is among their signatures, and I often also get the Asa Spris (curried fish stew) when I visit. I do, unfortunately, have to dock a star here for some of the cuts they've had to make; a small side salad used to accompany most entrees, but now costs $9. I understand inflation is ever-present, but that's eyebrow-raising. Moreover, the injera they provide seems to be in smaller bundles than previously, usually not enough to complete a meal including the piece it is served on, which means you usually need to ask for more. And this segways to why I have to dock another star for the service quality; it could be much better lately. Typically, I find that I have to seat myself, which isn't a huge deal, but the waiters often disappear from the dining room for up to 15 minutes at a time. I've had to get up to refill my water or grab napkins from the waiter station, which I feel bad doing because it's technically not somewhere clients should be accessing on their own, but I often don't have any choice. Finally, the website hasn't been updated in years; don't look at the menu posted there unless you want to lament how inflation has taken its toll on affordability. Overall, I give Enjera props for having quality fare and a nice little venue, but there are some issues I'd encourage management to address.

After almost 7 years, I was in the area again and I was super happy to be able to come back…read more The food is still amazing The people are still awesome, one of the best services I've ever had. We all loved it, and can't wait to be in the area again !

Enatye is a true hidden gem, tucked away in the back of an industrial park. You'd never know it was…read morethere unless someone told you--or you were actively hunting for Ethiopian food. At first glance, I wasn't impressed ( yeah yeah judging a book by its cover... I know better) I was wrong. The food was very flavorful, generous, and downright satisfying. We started with the sambusas (meat and veggie). They were good, though a bit mild (personally for me), I still give the edge to an Indian samosa, but that's just me. The combo is absolutely the move. We shared a three-person platter with lamb, beef, and chicken tibs, plus a variety of vegetarian dishes (see photos). Everything came served on rolls of injera, the spongy Ethiopian flatbread. This is a hands-on meal. As in, you eat with your fingers. Yes... it was glorious. The presentation is classic Ethiopian style: a large platter lined with injera, topped with meats and vegetables spread out like they're feeding 50 million people. The trick is to tear off the injera under the food, not the extra rolls, because it soaks up all that flavorful gravy. It's harder than it sounds, but totally worth it. The main dishes were very flavorful. I was genuinely impressed by both the quantity and the depth of flavor across the entire meal. These are the happy surprises I live for. Highly recommend giving it a try.

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.

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.

Are you tired of eating the same few cuisine all the time? Sushi and burger and the usual? Well,…read moreventure out and try Ethiopian food. 1. Reservation: recommended if you are coming on Friday or Saturday. 2. Food: very good - Enjara: the bread made of teff. it is very unique and it was my first time trying it and I loved it - collared green was good - yellow split beans were excellent options for vegetarion dish - red lentils were unique in seasoning. 3. Drinks they have full bar, mixed drinks and beer and wine options are available. 4. Service: very nice and welcoming 5. Extra: they serve their Ethiopian drink Tej is an aded bonus, it is nothing like I know. Technically a honey-wine. 6. They have LIVE MUSIC! call and check with them. Artists usually come on Saturdays. Cannot wait to check them out. Highly recommend!!

I took my wife and son. We got the veggie and meat combo. The food was amazing and the service was…read moregreat. They were very pleasant and attentive. We ended our meal with a coffee, which I would definitely recommend. We will be returning.

There are a lot of hip new Ethiopian places in DC. This Alexandria spot has been around a long…read moretime, and feels like it, for better or for worse. More for better in my opinion. The online ordering system was a bit baffling. There were a million boxes to check when I ordered a veggie combo, but it wasn't clear whether, for example, a drink was included or whether I had any actual choice of vegetables. I left it mostly alone. Their menu is varied. I had three different choices of sambusas, the fried savory pastry, and their mixed vegetable one had potatoes, green beans, and a distinctive sour spice mix. A more conventional spicy lentil creation also fit the bill. Getting a veggie combo to go left me with a bunch of small containers, each with a delightfully distinctive option. You'll get a wonderfully balanced meal this way, with many colors, flavors and textures. I opted to spend extra money to get 100% teff injera (this flatbread is usually made with a mix of Ethiopian grain and regular wheat when you order it at restaurants), which was spongy and a bit too crumbly for my liking. Gluten-free diners, and indeed most people with special dietary needs, will rejoice.

Words cannot express how much I love this place. My friends and I have been here three times so…read morefar, and every time the food is exceptional, service is kind, warm and welcoming, and the ambiance is very calm and relaxing. Hawwi is such an absolute gem in our neighborhood. Prices are extremely reasonable, and the portions are huge! They are also extremely family friendly. I really appreciated that they had small actual silverware and mini bottles of water for kids. My favorite dishes are so far their lentil sambusas, the vegan sampler and the tilapia. The baklava is also absolutely out of this world. Please if you are in the neighborhood, visit this place. They will make you feel like family! I even used some of my leftovers for my daughters school lunch the next day, and she ate it all!

Very casual Ethiopian restaurant with a solid menu of very authentic dishes that come in very large…read moreportions I came here for dinner with my fiancé and we early could have split one of the entrees between the 2 of us. Also, they really don't skip on the meat here which I love. Food was very tasty The place is also attached to a small Ethiopian coffee shop that also has a variety of desserts

After hearing so much buzz about the Ethiopian food scene in DC, I eagerly came to Dama based on a…read morerecommendation from a friend to check out the hype. As a verdict: Dama is so good that I find myself craving for it the very next day. Each dish is served in a sizable portion with the meat and veggies deliciously spiced and seasoned, all served on top of the soft pillowy bed of injera. Our group shared four different dishes: Special Veggies Combo, Fish Goulash, Lamb Alicha, and Lamb Tibs. We couldn't stop eating, but we also couldn't finish the food despite our best effort. Considering the quantity and quality of what you get, the price-point is more than reasonable. Service can be slow, likely because all dishes were served at once, so don't go there famished. We waited about half an hour before our food arrived, but once it did, it was worth the wait. The injera is refillable, which is awesome since it paired very well with all of the curries and cubed meat of each dish. There's a small parking lot in front of the shop, and it was easy for us to find parking there around dinner time. I'd happily go there again on my next trip to DC.

(5) ~ Excellent Food & Service! The Tej (Honey Wine) by the glass was still slightly oxidized, so I…read morerecommend getting a full unopened bottle to make sure it's fresh;)

While the menus at Ethiopian restaurants tend to be somewhat similar, Sheba stood out to me in some…read moregood ways. One way that I always like is seeing something on the menu I rarely see at other Ethiopian restaurants. That was their Chicken and Spinach option. The other was, for lack of a better term, a "lightness" to some of the entrees. This was particularly true of the meat dishes. While always tasty,they sometimes have a heavier, or oilier taste to them. The dishes here, in particular the chicken dishes, tasted lighter and fresher. The atmosphere here is a bit quieter, we had great service, and overall it was a very enjoyable experience.

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.