WHere is the best Ethiopian restaurant in DC area?

[lacugna]

I lived in both Addis and Asmara and have not had luck with places the hotel concere\iges suggest.

[Marty L.]

Don Rockwell swears that the kitfo at Abay is the best he's had:

http://www.donrockwell.com/index.php?...

[Steve]

The best in NoVa is Eyo, in the same shopping center as Abay. Eyo is top notch, and the food rivals the better kitchens of the DC area. This is a swank sports bar with an Italian side to the menu, though it’s not as good as going to a cheap Italian restaurant.

I went with two other Chowhounds to Abay. Mr. Taster from L.A. and Airon, who has since moved back to Dallas. We ordered the only three dishes they could produce that night:

Tera sega, raw cubes of beef as highlighted in the City Paper article. They were chewy and flavorless, only good with the shio as a dipping sauce.

Yebeg alicha, which was on the low end of the scale for local Ethiopian.

Finally, the kitfo. About average. By far the best in the area is at Ethiopic.

Here is the link for Mr Taster’s post:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8495...

[Steve]

I finally made it to Ethiopic, and it was a memorable meal. Well, it was just last night so of course I remember it, but I think I'll be hankering for it until the next time.

I had the large vegetarian platter (7 items), added the fish, and ordered the kitfo raw. Best kitfo I've had. Although raw, it is warm and spicy, served with cottage cheese and ground spinach. The only clunker was some hard patties served in a sauce (I think they were made of chickpeas?), that were like hockey pucks.

Great place, if pricey.

[misshorty]

Try MERKAMO, it is on Commerce st in Springfield, VA. There is also this small, not fancy place called EYO but very delicious food espacially the "tibs"It is in falls,church,VA off seminary rd. Good Luck!!!

[alanbarnes]

I really enjoyed Zenebech Injera. It's the antithesis of a place a hotel concierge would suggest.

-----
Zenebech Injera
608 T St NW, Washington D.C., DC 20001

[lacugna]

I love all the quick responses - - -keep them coming! Glad to see Ethio enthusiasts !

[GraydonCarter]

What dishes are you looking for, across the board. Just curious what you like.

[CDouglas]

Etete is the place to go and then judge all the rest by.

The Yebeg Wat and raw Special Kitfo are tremendous.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[moosy]

How is Lalibela on 14th and P?

-----
Lalibela Restaurant
1415 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

[ChristinaMason]

This place was my favorite until I tried Etete, which was a bit more flavorful and refined. However, I haven't been to the latter recently, and I've heard the cooking quality and portion sizes have gone down. Ethiopic is the new favorite, but I've yet to try it.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[JungMann]

I just visited Lalilbela on your recommendation and was fairly pleased. Quality was a bit uneven, our keye and doro wot were rich and flavorful, while kik alicha was surprisingly bland and the lamb tibs tough. I'll have to try Etete when I can convince my dining companions to travel away from Dupont.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[ChristinaMason]

In your shoes, I'd check out Ethiopic instead. Todd Kliman, one of the city's best food critics, has been raving about it for over a year, and he just listed their lamb tibs as "the best [he's] ever had."

[agarnett100]

I have heard good things about Ethiopic also

[Steve]

Lame.

[sweth]

I stop by Lalibela about once a year, and it's consistently good in my experience. I do seem to be in the minority in that regard on this board, though.

-----
Lalibela Restaurant
1415 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005

[Steve]

If you're serious, you might wan to read the following article:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/ar...

I am told that Abay has now started serving some other dishes in addition to the raw beef. There is also a very good place in the same shopping center called Eyo with a full menu.

[lacugna]

thanks for the article link! Yes, I am a serious Ethio eater!

[woodleyparkhound]

I like Etete, Queen Makeda and Dukem in that order. I haven't been to Ethiopic.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[lacugna]

Thanks! I am beginning to see a pattern - - I am planning two Ethio meals while there - -

[woodleyparkhound]

Oh, I forgot... on another thread someone said that Queen Makeda might have stopped serving Ethiopian food. I'm not sure about this; I haven't been since October.

-----
Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[DanielK]

I don't think Queen Makeda is open anymore. Or, rather, I don't think they're an Ethiopian restaurant anymore. It seems to have become a bar/club/wing place, that sometimes has some Ethiopian food available.

-----
Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[ChristinaMason]

I had a meal at Queen Makeda last September. The food was OK but distinctly less buttery than Etete, Lalibella, Dukem, etc. I wasn't crazy about it.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Queen Makeda
1917 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[hamster]

Where have you tried? I like Etete best, on 9th Street NW. It never disappoints. Some think that Ethiopic on H Street NE is better, but I did not think the quality was significantly higher there and it's more expensive (though they did include this delicious string bean dish on the veggie platter which I'd never seen before). Apparently it's Ethiopic's one-year anniversary this week, so it may be busy or have some special events going on?
I have also heard good things about Zenebech, which is a much more casual place in the U Street area.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[c oliver]

Etete was the first Ethiopian restaurant we went to and we loved it. Ate there twice on a ten day trip. And it's a handsome place also.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

[sweth]

Seconded on Ethiopic being no better than Etete despite being pricier. If you're in the area, it's fine, but not worth a special trip vs. going to U St.

-----
Etete
1942 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001