Lalibela Restaurant: Experience Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine in Washington, DC

This Ethiopian restaurant is absolutely amazing! The atmosphere is so warm and homey — it instantly makes you feel comfortable and welcomed. The staff are incredibly kind and attentive, and the service is impressively fast. Every dish tastes authentic and full of flavor — truly the best Habesha food in the city! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a genuine Ethiopian dining experience.

It’s a flavor explosion, an experience like no other! I was visiting DC and was looking for foods unique to the area. I learned that DC is home to a diaspora of Ethiopians who have quite the unique culinary variety. I’d never had Ethiopian food before and decided this would be my chance! I did a bit of research and looked at different menus, but Dashen stood out to me because they had both a vegetarian and meat combination platter and would size them all the way down to a single person size. Traditionally Ethiopian meals are very social and platters are often shared. It was very simple to get there I simply took the Greenbelt Metro to the Shaw-Howard U station and it was like a block and a half south of that. When I arrived they told me I could sit wherever I’d like, so I chose a seat facing the window (people watching). I ordered both the veg and meat platters for one. I was hungry, but this was even too much for me, but I wanted to try as much as I could. It was an absolute delight! If you are nervous about Ethiopian food, take it from me, you’ll like it! Try a platter and I guarantee you’re going to find dishes you fall in love with. It’s a great way to try a variety of things they offer. Also if you have friends with you twist their arm to go with you, it’ll be a lot of fun and super tasty! The staff was so nice and friendly, they explained what everything was and how it was made. They make it fresh daily (I can’t imagine the labor that goes into that!). The chef came out and greeted me and later as I had requested coffee, she came out with a cast iron pan she was actually roasting the beans in! She carried it over to me and another couple people who had ordered coffee and stirred it while it roasted around the room so the room filled with the smell of roasted coffee beans! Delightful! She then came out with a platter and poured the cups of coffee and even sat at my table for a couple minutes with me as we chatted and she too shared a cup of coffee! Such a nice experience! They also have a special honey drink called Tej, it’s actually a house made honey wine, so be aware it is alcoholic. Very sweet and tasty though, they serve it in a very unique glass that I guess is traditional. Anyway you eat the different foods with this flat bread that kinda has a spongy texture to it but tastes like sourdough. It was very good honestly and worked well with the dishes, trust me. Totally recommend Dashen to anyone who wants a great culinary experience or a great social experience! Honestly you could go alone like I did, but I would really like to bring friends next time!

Recommended by an Ethiopian friend - best idea ever. The meat combo was delicious! The food was fresh, not greasy and served plenty for two of us. We had specific allergy requests and they were more than understanding and accommodating. Cannot wait to come back - all the way from Boston

Great Ethiopian family-owned restaurant in Shaw! Good food, great selection of beers from Ethiopia, great service and experience overall. We will definitely come back

Had an amazing experience at Dashen. As an Ethiopian…DMV is a hub for our food and I’m so excited to find a new spot with ETHIOPIAN BREAKFAST FOOD! Flavorful and warm! Had the non-meat fir fir and ful (bean dip). I ve tried the combo dishes too that were equally great so they earn a review. Quality service and ambiance with traditional coffee and popcorn! Must try! Great location/group friendly!

Sitting here in this family-owned restaurant, you can feel that it’s more than just a place to eat, it’s a gathering spot for the local community. The room is full of smiling faces and great energy. It was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine, so I asked for their recommendation, and they absolutely delivered. The food was generous, flavorful, and unforgettable. Do yourself a favor and visit this place. You won’t regret it.

Best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had in DMV - and I’ve had a lot! Excellent vegetarian platter even tho we showed up for a late night meal. Everything was fresh - the tomato was particularly amazing but all the dishes were outstanding quality. Attentive service. This is my new go-to in DC.

Dashen has taken over the old Lalibela/Glo Lounge location, and while it may be under new management, absolutely nothing has changed except that the food has gotten even BETTER. I was so impressed, which is hard because I absolutely adore Ethiopian food already, but Dashen took the same great tastes of Lalibela/Glo and improved upon it even more. I was especially touched by the warmth and welcoming kindness of the chef and her husband. It was a very quiet Wednesday evening and they were so kind and attentive. Just lovely people. I am very happy Dashen is here and hope to return as frequently as I can.