A guide to ethiopian restaurants worth a trip, by city. We list operators, signature dishes, and the rooms locals book first.

Ethiopian in Washington DC

Etete ★ 4.6

Ethiopian$$shaw

Etete in Washington DC is the canonical Little Ethiopia dining room on 9th Street since 2004, with doro wat, vegetarian combos and the spongy injera served on a shared round platter.

Signature: Doro wat, Vegetarian combination

Order: The doro wat with hard-boiled egg, eaten by hand from the shared injera platter.

Tip: Ask for the vegetarian combination if there are non-meat eaters; it is the more visually photographed plate.

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant ★ 4.4

Ethiopian$$shaw

Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant in Washington DC is the U Street Ethiopian dining room since 1997, the older sister to Etete and a U Street institution with sidewalk seating and live music.

Signature: Kitfo, Tibs

Order: The kitfo (Ethiopian raw beef tartare) leb leb or rare with mitmita spice; the room's deepest cut.

Tip: Live Ethiopian music plays Friday and Saturday from 21:00; the back booth is the quietest table.

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