Best Ethiopian Food in Washington DC, Plus Half-Smokes

The best Ethiopian food in Washington DC is eaten with your hands, from one big plate, in a restaurant that smells of toasted spices. The capital has one of the largest Ethiopian communities in the country, with long-running dining rooms on U Street and small carryouts in other neighborhoods.

Start with a combination plate of doro wat, tibs and vegetable dishes on injera. The half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl, on U Street, is the other Washington specialty.

What is the best Ethiopian food in Washington DC?

Start with a combination plate, which lets you taste several dishes at once. Doro wat is a spicy chicken stew with a hard-boiled egg. Tibs are sautéed pieces of beef or lamb. Vegetarian combinations pile lentils, split peas, collards and cabbage onto the same platter, and the vegetarian plate is a fine way to taste the cooking.

Everything is served on injera, a spongy, slightly sour flatbread. The food sits on top of it, and extra injera comes rolled on the side for scooping.

Where do you eat Ethiopian food in Washington DC?

U Street has long been part of the city's Ethiopian story, with some of its most recognizable restaurants. A well-known travel guide puts two Ethiopian restaurants among the city's top picks, and Columbia Heights adds kitchens known for beef tibs, though portions can be smaller than at some other places.

Other restaurants and a carryout are worth a look, including Ethiopic on H Street, which offers a vegetarian and vegan menu. Look at recent reviews before you pick one.

Why look for Ethiopian restaurants on U Street?

U Street is an easy place to start because several restaurants cluster there and you can walk between them. It also has music, bars and a history as a center of Black cultural life in the city, so an Ethiopian dinner pairs well with an evening out. The street is described in a tourism guide as the city's after-hours hot spot.

If you are staying nearby, you can follow dinner with a walk and a drink. Some Ethiopian restaurants serve coffee in a traditional ceremony, with roasted beans, incense and small cups.

What is a DC half-smoke?

A half-smoke is a sausage, half pork and half beef, split on a grill and served in a bun, often topped with chili, onions and mustard. It is the capital's own street food. Ben's Chili Bowl, at 1213 U Street NW, has long been part of the neighborhood and is known for its chili dogs, half-smokes and milkshakes. Order the chili half-smoke, and eat it inside the original shop.

A sit-down sister restaurant next door serves the same sandwich beside a fuller menu. Both are a short walk from the U Street Metro station.

How do you eat with injera?

Tear off a piece of injera with your right hand, use it to pinch up a bite of stew or vegetables, and eat the whole thing. Do not use a fork unless you ask for one. The shared plate is part of the experience: it is polite to take from the part nearest you and to feed a guest if the table invites it.

Order a variety, and try one dish that is spicy and one that is mild. If you are unsure about heat, ask for the sauce on the side.

How should you plan a night of Ethiopian food?

Go with at least two people so you can share a combination plate. Ask the server to recommend a mix and say how much spice you want. Leave room for coffee at the end if it is offered. Prices and menus change, so look at a current listing, and check the hours before you set out.

If you prefer a quick bite, many Ethiopian carryouts sell a plate to go. A takeout box can be a good test of a kitchen, because the stew should still taste rich after a short ride.

A word on timing. Ethiopian restaurants often get busy on weekend evenings, and a shared plate takes a while to arrive, so a table for two on a Friday may involve a wait. Weeknights are calmer. If you are with a group of four or more, ask for a large combination platter so everyone eats from the same dish, which is how the meal is meant to work and which keeps the table talking.

What else should you read around Washington?

For the surrounding neighborhoods, the U Street DC restaurants guide is the closest match, the cheap eats in Washington DC page lists more modest options, and the Washington DC food halls and markets guide covers a casual day out. The US guides page lists more cities.

How can Mosey help compare Ethiopian dishes?

Rate doro wat, tibs and half-smokes by the dish in the Mosey app, and the same stew eaten at two tables leaves two clear notes of your own.

A shared plate holds a dozen flavors, and memory fades after the second bite. Get the Mosey app, rate each stew and each sausage you eat, and build a Washington list that tells your friends which dining room is worth the trip.