Ethiopian food in Wash., D.C.

[raulgmanzo]

So in a few days I'll be in Washington , D.C. where I will get to spend some time with some wonderful men. But man cannot live on sex alone and so I hope to find some tasty teff and tej. I'm talking Ethiopian food.

 

If one has never had Ethiopian food give it a try. Very tasty stews (wat), sautes (tibs) and vegetable dishes, beef, lamb, goat, fish, or chicken marinated in berebere and interesting spices served on platters covered with an very unusual and tasty bread (injera) made from fermented teff flour. Ethiopia is also the birthplace of coffee so one should always be able to get a good fix of that other necessity.

 

I know of half a dozen or so Ethiopian eateries here in Chicago (mostly Edgewater and Rogers Park) and love visiting Little Ethiopia in Los Angeles. But I understand that Washington D.C. may have the largest Ethiopian/Eritrian community in the U.S.

 

I'm not as interested in specific restaurants as I am in neighborhoods with clusters of Ethiopian restaurants, groceries, etc. You know I hate to go to a specific singular restaurant only to find it closed with nothing else of it's type around. Plus a huge part of the joy of ethnic cuisine is the neighborhood ambiance.

 

So I wonder if anyone has suggestions? So far my inquiries and research have turned up the following:

 

U st. near 9 st., not specifically an Ethiopian neighborhood but lots of Ethiopian and other ethnic restaurants and even a few Ethiopian stores.

 

Places further afield which I may someday explore:

Silver Springs, MD perhaps near Georgia st

Columbia Pike in South Arlington

Wheaton

 

Raul

http://daddysreviews.com/review/raul_g_chicago

[leigh.bess.toad]

Raul -- first I must say I'm disappointed to learn that man cannot live on sex alone. Damn. And as one of the men who will delight in being in your company I am quite disappointed.

 

I don't know if you know about it, but the website I always use to find anything restaurant related is urbanspoon. Here is the link to urbanspoon's listing of Ethiopian restaurants in the area: http://www.urbanspoon.com/f/7/623/DC/Ethiopian-Eritrean-Restaurants.

 

From what I'm seeing, there are almost 60 Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in the DC area. It looks like the largest concentration would be in the Adams-Morgan neighborhoods and along U street/Shaw area, the two areas I would have suspected without even looking. However, from the reviews it does look like there is one good one near Logan Circle which should be nearby where you/we will be: Lalibela on 14th Street.

 

Hope this helps. And I can't wait to finally meet you.

 

P.S. - It's Silver Spring. Locals can get a bit grumpy when you make it plural. Much like when you make the university in Baltimore John Hopkins (singular).

[whipped guy]

It's Silver Spring. Locals can get a bit grumpy when you make it plural.

So true... I have a cousin who lives there and I was corrected once... mistake never to be made again. At any rate, I did learn that there are a few Ethiopian Restaurants in the area that is walking distance from the Red Line Metro Station at Colesville Road. I also recall that Georgia Avenue (mentioned above by Raul) is a reasonable walk. I remember that I thought that one such restaurant was an Italian Restaurant... well it had the look of a pizza joint... but again I was corrected!!!

 

In any event, do enjoy!

[+ FreshFluff]

I've been to DC quite a few times, and U Street and Shaw is where the action is. Google also turned up this Ethiopian Food tour of DC:

 

http://www.dcmetrofoodtours.com/ethiopia.htm

[+ ArVaGuy]

I'd suggest the 18th Street / Adams Morgan area as well as U Street / Shaw for the most part you won't go wrong with any choice of restaurant. My specific suggestions would be Meskerem, Zed's and Dukem.

[+ Charlie]

There used to be a good Ethiopian restaurant on the west side of 18th between S and T Sts, but I don't remember the name, and I don't know if it is still there.

[gp0560]

When you come to town again, Raul, I'll take you to the Ethiopian restaurant across the street from where we had lunch last time. (Then can we head back to the hotel, please? I'm tired of investigating the picturesque areas on my dime!)

[justaguy]

For Ethiopian food, Adams Morgan is where you want to go. Lots of excellent choices. It also has a couple of nice Caribbean places you might want to check out.

[Poolboy21409]

I am glad to see this good response as many think that "Ethiopian" and "food" is an oxymoron.

[Bosguy]

I am glad to see this good response as many think that "Ethiopian" and "food" is an oxymoron.

 

Let's thank Raul for suggesting it. I did not even know that this was a delicious and popular ethnic dining experience. When I was in Chicago, Raul and I tried vatieties of dining I had never dared attempt. Among his MANY TALENTS, he is super knowledgeable about food and cooking.

 

Looking forward to this experience for the food, the company, and learning the culture.

 

Boston Bill

[Decatur Guy]

I am glad to see this good response as many think that "Ethiopian" and "food" is an oxymoron.

 

I lived near an Ethipian restaurant in North Carolina. I liked the food a lot, in a way that's difficult to describe. I have to say I never warmed up to that bread though.

 

For bread, give me that bread they serve in Indian restaurants. OMG!

[ChiTown]

Ethiopian Food in DC

 

Hey Foodie Raul!

 

The area along U St has several good Ethiopian restaurants. Two that I'd suggest are Dukem, http://www.dukemrestaurant.com, and Etete http://www.eteterestaurant.com.

 

Enjoy your time in the District next week.

[GreatTop]

Makes me want to try it!

[Dave]

i'm with chitown... etete is my favorite in dc. i also eat at lalibela on 14th because they are open late.... and dukem's a good choice, too (albeit a bit more of a touristy feel, IMO)

 

dc actually has the largest ethiopian community in the united states.

 

btw Raul, i fukkin' LOVE ethiopian food. it would be fun to get you naked - lay you down on some injera - and slather you with irgo, alicha or key wot, kibe, and maybe a little tej - and then take my naked

WOOPS i meant - it would be fun to have ethiopian food with you while you are here in town.