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The Best Ethiopian Food in Washington, DC

DC has one of the largest Ethiopian communities outside Addis Ababa — here is where to eat doro wat, kitfo, and tibs scooped up with injera.

By Dim Hour · Updated 2026-06-23 · 6 verified picks

Washington, DC is home to one of the largest Ethiopian populations outside Ethiopia, and the food shows it — the city is arguably the best place in America to eat Ethiopian. These are the rooms that answer "where should I get Ethiopian food in DC," each scored and verified by Dim Hour, organized by neighborhood with the dishes to order.

A note on how to eat it: Ethiopian food is served communal-style on a large round of injera — a spongy, slightly sour flatbread you tear and use to scoop. Doro wat (spiced chicken stew), kitfo (minced beef), tibs (sautéed meat), and a vegetarian platter of lentils and greens are the staples. No utensils required.

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The Picks
1

Ethiopic

Ethiopian · H Street NE · $$ · Dim Hour 86

A long-running H Street NE favorite and one of the most-recommended Ethiopian rooms in the city — the kind of place to bring a table and share a full injera platter of stews and tibs.

📍 401 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
2

Tsehay Restaurant & Bar

Ethiopian · Adams Morgan · $$ · Dim Hour 86

An Adams Morgan restaurant and bar in the heart of DC's historic Ethiopian corridor — a reliable, full-service introduction to the cuisine, drinks included.

📍 2429 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
3

Letena

Ethiopian · Columbia Heights · $$ · Dim Hour 83

A Columbia Heights standby known for its tibs and kitfo, with a doro wat that anchors the menu and a vegetarian sampler that's one of the better-value plates in the neighborhood.

Order: tibs · kitfo · doro wat · vegetarian sampler
📍 3100 14th St NW Ste 121, Washington, DC 20010 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
4

Das Ethiopian

Ethiopian · Georgetown · $$$ · Dim Hour 84

A Georgetown mainstay where the beef tibs and shiro wat lead — a sit-down option in a part of town short on the cuisine, with the lentils and cabbage rounding out the platter.

Order: beef tibs · shiro wat · lentils · cabbage
📍 1201 28th St NW, Washington, DC 20007 Full listing on Dim Hour →
5

Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart

Ethiopian · Shaw · $$ · Dim Hour 82

A Shaw restaurant and market where the vegetarian platter is the move — a generous spread of lentils, greens, and stews on injera, with an attached market for taking the spices home.

Order: vegetarian platter
📍 1334 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 Website ↗ Full listing on Dim Hour →
6

Heat Da Spot

Ethiopian / Breakfast · Columbia Heights · $$ · Dim Hour 82

A Columbia Heights spot that leans into the Ethiopian breakfast tradition — ful (stewed fava beans) and chechebsa (torn flatbread in spiced butter) make it a distinctive morning stop, not just a dinner room.

Order: ful · chechebsa
📍 3213 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010 Full listing on Dim Hour →
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Ethiopian food in Washington, DC?
The top Ethiopian picks in Washington DC include Ethiopic, Tsehay Restaurant & Bar, Letena. Each is scored and verified by Dim Hour; see the full ranked list with signature dishes above.
Why does DC have so much Ethiopian food?
Washington, DC is home to one of the largest Ethiopian diaspora communities in the world, anchored historically around the U Street / Shaw and Adams Morgan corridors. That community made DC arguably the best American city for Ethiopian food.
What should I order at an Ethiopian restaurant?
Start with a doro wat (spiced chicken stew), a tibs (sautéed beef or lamb), and a vegetarian combination platter (lentils, greens, and stews). Everything comes on injera, the sour flatbread you use to scoop — no utensils needed. Kitfo (minced raw or lightly cooked beef) is for the more adventurous.
What is injera?
Injera is a large, spongy, slightly sour flatbread made from teff flour. It lines the platter and is served alongside in rolls; you tear off pieces to scoop the stews and meats. It doubles as plate and utensil.
Where can I get Ethiopian food in Adams Morgan or Columbia Heights?
Tsehay Restaurant & Bar is in Adams Morgan; Letena and Heat Da Spot are in Columbia Heights — all in or near DC's historic Ethiopian neighborhoods.
Is there vegetarian or vegan Ethiopian food in DC?
Yes — Ethiopian cuisine is famously vegetarian-friendly. Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart in Shaw and Letena in Columbia Heights both do strong vegetarian combination platters of lentils, greens, and stews.
How much does Ethiopian food cost in DC?
Most of these are mid-range ($$) — a shared combination platter for two is one of the better-value meals in the city, since everything is communal.
How many restaurants does Dim Hour cover in Washington, DC?
Dim Hour curates 432+ restaurants in Washington, DC, each scored and verified, organized by neighborhood, cuisine, and occasion.
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Dim Hour scores every restaurant on food, service, ambiance, and value, and verifies every listing. This guide is updated as the catalog changes. Explore all Washington DC restaurants →