Etete or Dukem?

[Rick]

My wife and I have never had Ethiopian before and are looking forward to it next weekend during out visit. From my research these seem to be the two most recommended here on Chowhound. Is one better than the other or are they both great choices? Is one more casual than the other?

After looking at Dukem's website, I was thinking Dukem Combo #6 would be a good sampler for us to share and try as many different dishes as possible. I wasn't able to find a similiar combo choice at Etete.

[Steve]

No contest in my book. Here's my ordering suggestion at Etete: Get the fastening food platter (this is a vegetarian selection). Add the fish for 2 bucks or so. And order the derek tibs. Really, for your first time out you should go for the best.

[johnb]

Steve is right. Dukem was the best until Etete came along. Now it's no contest. Just about any way you order there you'll get a sampling of many individual items, and will enjoy it.

[gooseterp]

I third Etete. It is casual and delicious.

[chickenlover]

I like them both. One thing to consider: Dukem has a lot more elbow room than Etete. If you go to Etete, go early.

[dracisk]

A couple of Ethiopian cab drivers and an Ethiopian friend have all told me recently that Madjet (next to Dukem on U Street) is now "the best" Ethiopian. My Ethiopian friend says the ranking goes Madjet, Dukem, Etete. I like all three. In terms of elbow room, Madjet is somewhere between Dukem and Etete.

[Professor12]

I haven't made it to Dukem yet but I found Etete to be good, not great. Locally, I've eaten at Meserkem, Fasikas, Zeds, Addis Abbaba, and Cafe Labelia. Being a vegan, I've stuck to the vegetarian combo platters which differed slightly in terms of what is offered at each of the above. Everything on the fastening plate at Etete was good but some of the above places had better examples of certain dishes: the azifa and miser wat at Zed's was better and teh gomen at Addis Abbaba is the probably the best I had. In my experience it's a toss-up between Zeds and Etete for the best food though Etete certainly wins out on value.