First time trying Ethiopian food, and it was delicious. The wine tasted funny on it's own, but with the food, it was great. Definitely recommend getting a combination platter to share in order to try all different things.
(4)
Amanda I.
The food here was good. I got the combination platter #2 for one and my friend got the vegetable platter for one. Platter #2 had Doro wat, which was great, comes with a chicken leg and a hard boiled egg in a brown flavorful sauce. It also came with a lamb stew dish which was my favorite the sauce had great flavor and the lamb was cooked well. It had a ground beef dish which was good the sauce tasted good, the beef was ground in a way that it almost had the texture of lentils. It came with another chicken portion that was ok did not have much flavor and collard greens which added a good vegetable component. My friend enjoyed the vegetable platter (which all the vegetable dishes are also vegan!) The service was also good, the waitress made sure we had enough water the whole time and answered all the questions we had. The food came out quickly too, probably in about 5-8 minutes. The serving of the platters was not as fun as some Ethiopian places where they lay out a piece of injera and pile the food on, it was just on the plates. On the table there are some facts and tips about the food, my favorite one is something about if you are on a date feed each other the food by hand for a romantic experience, had to laugh at that one! I would come back to this restaurant!
(4)
Rehana A.
***Updated Review Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned a FAST FOOD Ethiopian place. The point of mentioning a fast food Ethiopian place was to say that IF YOU WANT MEDIOCRE FOOD then you might want to patron Abol. There are plenty of other Ethiopian places to try in Silver Spring. I would definitely give them a try. Food was terrible. Ordered a meat special and a veggie special combo for two. Got two pieces of meat and the veggies were full of oil. Save yourself and go to Ethio Express down the street
(1)
Gordon B.
This place was great. It was my first Ethiopian experience and it was fantastic. They explained the customs, which really helped me understand why no utensils were used. We ordered a stew sampler, and everything tasted great!
(4)
Ellen K.
I've lived in Silver Spring for 6 years now, and Abol is still my favorite Ethio restaurant (keeping in mind that I'm vegetarian, so I've obviously never had any meat entrees).The flavor is hands-down the best of all the veggie platters I've tried in the area. The beets are simply the best of any place I've tried and their green & carrots (fosolia) seems to be baked because its flavorful and almost chewy, instead of bland and watery. However, the food is prepared way too oily. It's the norm to see their veggie sides sitting in a pool of oil, unfortunately. While some people may not care, I personally would much rather have half the oil, because with the amount of oil being used, cutting it by that much probably would =not impact the flavor much. Also, I noticed that their portions have shrunk a bit since the new management. All in all though, if health factors were not a priority, I would still choose Abol for my Ethio dining.
(4)
Lynie H.
Great Ethiopian food..and the honey beer is sweet and delicious :-) We got the combo platter and #15 beef tibs. We had no room for dessert. They put everything on one big platter if u choose.
(3)
Kassity L.
We love the food here. We typically order one of their platters, which offer a pretty good sampling of different meats and flavor profiles. My favorite is the lamb that comes with a couple of the combo platters, which comes in a creamy and sweet stew. I've always thought that everything is really well seasoned and prepared -- having come across anything that was too salty, or where the meat was overcooked. If you run out of injera bread, they also offer to bring you more. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the service isn't always good. Sometimes you're kept waiting quite awhile before the waitress will bring you the check. When they're not busy though, their service is decent.
(4)
Langdon A.
Visiting an area known for its Ethiopian restaurants (and from a place with only one in town), we had expectations of a good meal. Well, I'm sorry to say we were disappointed with our visit to Abol. I'll mention the positives first, because they won't take long: the service was quite good, and the sambossas stuffed with a tasty lentil mix were nice. But we shared a vegetarian combo, and that's where it all went downhill. With the exception of the brownish/reddish lentils, every other item - the beets to the beans & carrots to the yellow lentils to the cabbage - was disappointing. The food simply was not flavorful and, therefore, was not enjoyable. Several other notes: - I prefer when the combos are served atop a large piece of injera rather than in a serving dish as they are here. - The prices were so-so, especially considering the modest condition of the dining room. The "economies of scale" for when you order a combination for multiple people were quite modest (I think the second person gets added for only a $1 less than the first).
(2)
Cicely P.
Really excellent food and very inexpensive. I'm obsessed with the Lega Beef Tibs. The sauce is heavenly.
(4)
Yu H.
I don't have a whole lot of experience with Ethiopian food to compare this with so I'll just judge it based on my own tastes. The restaurant looks clean without any frills. The waitress was nice and friendly. The service was quick. It's recommended that you eat the food without silverware by scooping it up with some sort of pancake bread they give you. I ordered the lunch portion of the spicy lamb stew. The lamb was well cooked but was rather bland compared to what I was expecting. It wasn't really spicy at all. The injera (pancake bread) had a sour taste but otherwise flavorless. Like I said, I'm not sure how this compares to traditional Ethiopian food but to me, it lacked flavor.
(3)
Kristin L.
Consider me hooked on Ethiopian food. I was new to Ethiopian food so my only preconceived notion was that it was going to involve meat and spices, therefore I was in with both feet and a piece of injera in my hand. Never have I been so joyful to have grease running down my hand through the little holes in the bread! I ordered the 'meat' 4 sample combo. NOM. NOM. NOM. Everything was very saucy, but not soupy. I loved how the chicken sample came with a hard boiled egg (who cares which came first?!). There was also a lamb dish, a beef dish and what I think was an oxtail dish. Did I say NOM NOM NOM?? One of my friends felt the food wasn't spicy hot enough, but he's crazy. There were plenty of meat and vegetarian options, which was impressive, samples and whole dishes. I'm pretty carb conscious so I was a little worried that I would fill up on injera, but was pleased to find that was not at all the case. This is not 'glam' dining, there's no see or be seen here. The dining room is very basic, the waitress very kind, if not a tad on the soft-spoken side, but at one point a woman I assume was the owner, came to our table to ask how everything was - it's a small gesture, but I think it goes a long way. Just as soon as the orange stains have faded from my fingers, I will be back (and I will be looking up how to cook Ethiopian food for myself!). And I want to experience the coffee ceremony.
(4)
Steven U.
This is my first foray into Ethiopian food. We ordered the combination #1 (vegetables) and combination #3 (meat) and sambossa. I have no frame of reference to compare but this place made a great first impression. Flavors and textures were foreign but delightful. I need to try out some Ethiopian places in Los Angeles.
(5)
Phuong H.
We tried the meat lovers combo #2 and #4 and loved them! Combo #2 had chicken stew, lamb stew, two types of beef stew, and collard greens. Combo #4 had chicken stew, two types of beef stew, split lentils, split peas, and collard greens. Everything was delicious, especially the split lentils! The lamb was a bit chewy, but I didn't mind. The portions may seem a bit small, but really fill you up when eaten with injera - we had tons of leftovers afterward! Oh, and the service was also great.
(5)
Mimmm T.
I am a native of Ethiopia and I have to say the food at abol is very bad. I came with my family for dinner . The atmosphere and the service was good . We ordered the lamb special, kittfo, and vegetarian combo. The lamb was cooked right but it was watery and bland. The kittfo and 2 of the vegetarian options were the only ones with a little bit of flavor. I would not recommend this place . If you want great Ethiopian food look at other restaurants near by.
(2)
Timothy C.
Walked by Abol 4-5 times, but never knew what Ethiopian food was. SO glad I tried it. 8 of us for a Sunday lunch. Abol makes a big deal of the fact that you don't use silverware with an explanation on the table that has something to do with a clock made out of silverware. Instead, they bring out a plate of injera, which is a mix between a pita and a pancake, but looks like old T-shirt. Don't be fooled, it doesn't taste like it looks, and it is a perfect way to eat the stew & sauce-type dishes that make up the majority of the options on the menu. Rip a hand-sized piece off of the plate, grab some stew of meat with it, and deliver it to your mouth. I tried a hot chickpea sauce, very tasty and savory, and the beef tibs (photo), which are the same contents and serving presentation as a fajita platter (onions, peppers, jalepenos, and bits of beef), but seasoned with different spices - a very tasty mixture. I also had a few ribs thrown in there, little bits of meat attached to big bones. Needed a knife for those (sorry silverware policy!) Our group also tried various stews like doro wot (chicken stew with a boiled egg) and spicy beef stew, and even a beef tartar served with cheese. It is a very social way to eat, especially if you are trying it for the first time, as everyone is out of their element and in a good mood. Will totally return. Honestly, I don't know how they could improve on what they do that wouldn't ruin the homey touch.
(5)
Bonnie L.
This review is for delivery. I tried calling to place an order but no one picked up. So I placed the order online at 7:08pm. The confirmation email said the food would be delivered by 7:45pm. I called after 8pm and the person who answered said the food had just been picked up by the delivery person. We live less than two miles from the restaurant so I called again at 8:30pm when the food had still not arrived. The person that answered said that it was on the way and that she would check on it and call me back. She did not call me back. I called again at 8:45pm, one hour after the food should have arrived. I was told that he was five minutes away. When I complained that it was over an hour late and I had not received a phone call, all I was offered was an unspecified discount if the food did not arrive after another five minutes. At that point, I no longer trusted that they were delivering the food, and even if it did arrive it would likely be cold by that point and I had several mouths to feed so I cancelled the order. There are so many wonderful, reliable Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood so I will no longer be patronizing Abol.
(1)
Brandon P.
The tilapia and veggie platter were very good. I was more impressed this time than the 1st time... new management perhaps?
(4)
Kristin C.
I have been fascinated by Ethiopian food for a long time with its vibrant colors, flavors, and unique flatbread. It's been a long time though, and Abol's fit the bill tonight. I tried the number one combo (vegetarian). I'm not a vegetarian but I love veggies and wanted to try a lot of the different veggie dishes. When it came out, it had a beautiful presentation of reds, oranges, greens, etc. with 6 different dishes to try. I think my favorite was the cabbage dish. By the way, you are expected to scoop up the foods without silverware with the spongy flatbread. Afterwards, the sweet chef came out to make sure every was okay. Everything was okay except I ATE WAY TOO MUCH! And I didn't even eat everything.
(5)
Miki H.
This is the first Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to. I was afraid of trying before because I thought I had to eat raw meat by hand. Eating by hand does not bother me, but eating raw meat does. But my friend told me that they have vegetarian options, so I decided to give it a try. I tried Vegetable Combination for 1, and I think their Combination deal is really worth it. For about $15, we can try 4-6 different dishes. Since I am so quick to get bored with any one dish, I had to try this one. I loved their lentil soup, split pea soup, collard green and string bean. Beets can be better. It was too plain. Eating by hands wasn't that bad, either, particularly when we were served with unlimited supply of injera. Injera is like a soft and thin pancake like thing. I've used it as utensils. They do not have the prettiest or the most appetizing color, but its sour taste really fit my taste. Service was good. Very friendly and polite. This restaurant got me interested in trying different Ethiopian restaurants.
(4)
Hua X.
I've been here twice. Not only has the food been solid (if slightly on the bland side as others have mentioned), the service has always been attentive and meticulous. They were very helpful working with my girlfriend's allergies. You'll get great bang-for-buck here -- portion sizes are excellent for the price and the bread is very filling. Alas, I would actually give this place 4.5 stars for the value and service if it were possible. For now, I'm rounding down because the taste was just a bit short of stunning (though still good).
(4)
Gregory H.
Do not order delivery from this place. Incredibly slow if it even ever arrives! Ours never did!
(1)
Sabrina W.
The hubby and I ate at Abol last night. The food was fresh, delicious and served promptly. We love this place!
(5)
Ben S.
The service here was very friendly, and they are clearly trying to be accessible for people who are new to the cuisine, including having written descriptions about the lack of utensils on the table. When it became clear that we are fans of Ethiopian food, our server engaged with us. We ordered a veggie combo for 2 (different than two veggie samplers which is always a mistake) and the shen bro asa w'et for three people. It was weird to us not to have the food presented on a plate of injera - instead, having the dishes in separate containers and having individual plates. Maybe it's about not wasting injera, I don't really know. Anyway, this was atypical but didn't ruin the meal or anything. The food was pretty fresh and had decent flavor. They also had some dishes, like the beets, that are not on the standard veggie sampler that you get at most restaurants. The biggest issue that we had was that it just wasn't enough food for us. This is something that I've come to struggle with when eating Ethiopian with vegetarians in particular --- a double veggie combo is almost never really a double, and so the quantity of food rarely works out, whereas typically ordering a veggie combo and an additional dish will have me and my dining partner stuffed. On this particular evening it was three of us and we had the veggie combo for 2 (and at twice the price) plus another dish, and less than an hour later I found myself eating tater tots at a Quarry House Tavern because I was still hungry.
(3)
Shellie D.
I have been to several Ethiopian restaurants and I did not know that Ethiopian food could taste this good! Thanks to Yelp for helping me find this place. My dad is in town and he wanted to try Ethiopian food for the first time. First, I loved their injera. It was so fresh and fluffy. We started with the appetizer, which is necessary! It is the only item listed for their appetizers and I can see why. The Sambossa (a light pastry filled with spicy lentils) was fresh, loaded with flavor and was very crispy. I loved it. We ordered the vegetarian combination, beef tibs and the stewed lamb tibs and shared amongst each other, which is the best way to do it in my opinion. The vegetarian combination came with several items: Yemisir Kik We't (Split Lentil Sauce), Yeater Kik Alicha we't (Yellow Split Pea Sauce), Gomen We't (Collard Green) Tikle Gomen (Cabbage), Fosolia Be Carote (String beans and carrots), Qey Sir- (Beets and Potato) and Tomato Salad. Finger licking good. I enjoyed everything on the plate. The Goden Tibs (Short Beef Ribs cooked in spice) were amazingly good! This is my all-time favorite Ethiopian dish. What really impressed us was the Yebeg We't (Lamb Stew) which is lamb simmered in red pepper sauce, seasoned with ginger root, garlic, cardamom and Berbere. The lamb was so tender and seasoned to perfection. We enjoyed using the pepper sauce as gravy for the other dishes. This is hands down my new go-to spot for Ethiopian food. In addition, I almost forgot to mention that the staff also added to our experience. The two young women servers were so helpful, friendly and attentive. Great customer service!
(5)
Adria M.
I visited this restaurant last summer using a living social coupon. My my little cousin was here from Upstate NY and hadn't tried many different cuisines, so I concocted an international cuisine summer 2012 bucket list. The service was a tad slow, but the food was well worth the wait! I believe we ordered a vegetarian platter, goden tibs (beef short ribs), and yebeg we't (lamb stew). Everything was wonderful, the collard greens were cooked perfectly and had a little crunch left to them. Lentils were delicious and had a good amount of texture (unlike a few previous experiences I had that left me thinking Ethiopian food had a texture similar to baby food). The meats had the perfect amount of charring around the edges and all was perfectly seasoned. We loved the injera which had just the right amount of tang and sponginess! I just wish I lived closer to Silver Spring...
(5)
Maya H.
This is my absolute favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the entire metropolitan DC area, hands down. The prices are reasonable, the food is OUTSTANDING, and I love the ambience--it's cozy, warm and inviting. Everything I have tried here is delicious, and I love the fact that you can get certain dishes here that you can't get everywhere else (like the beet salad--YUM). Parking is a bit tricky, since it's on Colesville Road near Georgia Avenue, but who cares? JUST GO. Go and take your friends with you. Walk 20 miles in the snow barefoot to get there if you have to. Trust me, you'll thank me for it later.
(5)
Bridget M.
Actually, 4.5 stars. I had never eaten Ethiopian food prior to yesterday, but I've been looking to expand my culinary horizons and I figured that Ethiopian was diving in head first. My boyfriend, sister, and one of my sister's friends accompanied me, and although the BF and myself were pretty keen on trying the food, my sister and her friend just went so they could "not be boring." I ordered the tej (honey wine), but I didn't like it too much and ended up passing it off to the BF, who found it interesting/palatable. I ordered the beef tibs and split lentils as my meal, and it was SO. FREAKING. GOOD. The tibs comes out on a sizzling platter (sort of similar to if you order fajitas) with tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and onions, and the split lentils are served in a tiny bowl. You scoop all the food up with injera, their spongy bread, and I hadn't expected its texture to be so...foamy. That being said, the flavor was definitely interesting and complemented the tastes of the food. My sister's friend ordered the fried fish and said it was bland but done nicely, but the salad that came with her entree was, in her words, "wonky." My sister (as you could probably tell by the above remark) isn't the most adventurous eater, so she didn't like the spicy beef tibs that she ordered. The BF and I agreed, though, that it was delicious. All in all--I look forward to going back! People who aren't into trying new foods, though, may not be pleased.
(4)
Daniel M.
Had dinner here tonight and loved it. The chef came over and talk to us about the menu and helped us make a selection. It was almost empty at dinner time on a Tuesday night but don't let that steer you away. We're not connoisseurs but we've had Ethiopian food a couple times and this place far exceeded our expectations. The food was delicious, perfectly spiced, and the service was warm friendly and attentive. It's a very casual place, so come as you are. If you are brand-new to Ethiopian food, this would be a great place to try it as they have directions on the table for how to cope without utensils.
(5)
Ryan B.
Simply satisfying. Yebeg We't (Lamb Stew): For $14, you get enough for a dinner and a leftover lunch, a bit of a kick to the stew, and a simply sensation on your tongue after this sauce simmers on it. Yes, I want to go back. No, Ethiopic of H Street is better and has bigger portions (but comes at a steeper price).
(4)
Neil O.
I've had better. Went here for lunch and that's about all I can say. I will be back since it is by my work and may update my rating depending how I like other dishes. I got the lunch special which included dori wet and two beef dishes I can't remember the exact name. All were just okay.
(3)
Stephen M.
Great find! They have the fresher injera, friendlier servers, and larger portions than any other Ethiopian place in the DC area. Sambussas look and taste more like spanakopitas--not a bad thing at all, but a little different. (Get both the spinach and the cinnamon lentil--both are the best in the area!) Veg platter is excellent and does not take too long to prepare if you are in a rush for Filmore or the movie theater. "For 2" version easily serves 2 hungry people. Tibbs have a BBQ flavor, again a bit different than other places but very good. On the other hand, being Maryland, this place will easily set you back $60+ for a dinner for 2. Will definitely return.
(4)
Jacob W.
Yeah man, this place has the goods. My girlfriend and I had just come off of some bad luck with Ethiopian and we were in the greater DC area for a wedding. We were guided to this place, naturally, by Yelp. It's a very warm, intimate, inviting restaurant. You will get the immediate sensation that you are supporting a small business that deserves your support, and you will be right. The tables have instructions under the glass tops for how to eat Ethiopian food. I don't need this instructions anymore, but I once did, so I think providing them is a good idea. There is a selection of Ethiopian beers and wines that I didn't try because I was going to a wedding that night and I was trying to take it a little easy. My dining companion and I ordered a meat-centric combination platter that was pretty fabulous. It had lamb, chicken, beef and a raw beef dish for the adventurous, which we are. Each featured tender meats in satisfying sauces with a delicate but robust spice balance. I would go into greater detail if I knew what anything was called but I can't say I'm a giant expert in this area of cuisine. I do, however, know good meat when I eat it and this place has the goods. We also got a side of collards that were merely okay, but they were also only $2.50 so who's complaining? We should have gotten a million vegetables at that price. Service is excellent. Waitstaff was polite, efficient and informative-- I imagine that they're used to fielding a lot of questions about the food and they do so with much aplomb. When I go back to DC greater metro I'll probably try a different Ethiopian place just because there are so many options but I'm very glad I tried this one.
(4)
Dana M.
YUM. Extremely friendly and helpful service, we were all extremely pleased with all our food! I had the Golden tibs (beef short ribs in an AMAZING spiced sauce) with a side of green beans & carrots. I don't know that I'll be able to try anything else next time we go because this was so good! Our table also had the vegetarian combo platter and the Tibs Fitfit, with a side of split peas. Both were raved about, though the Fitfit is a little too much injera when you're already using it to scoop up your food. Flavors were amazing though. Split peas were surprisingly delicious, and we wished we had a whole plate of them. The table taste-tested the regular vs. GF injera, and the only noticeable difference was a little lemon flavor in the GF version. We'll definitely be going back!!
(5)
D T.
superb Ethiopian food I particularly loved the chicken stew super rich and flavorful will definitely come back!
(5)
Maegen R.
It's more a 3 1/2 than a 4, but much closer to a 4 than a 3. The food is good. I've only been once, but I had a combination plate and so I tried about 5 different dishes. I wasn't overly impressed with the decor or the service, but I wasn't put off by it either. I'd definitely dine there again. The lentils were among the best I've had.
(4)
Amanda M.
Well I got a livingsocial deal here so I thought I'd try a new cuisine. ($15 for $30 worth of food) Of course I only bought it because this place has 4 stars. Can't say I was a fan though. I got the first chicken dish on the menu. It was a chicken stew with a hard boiled egg and cottage cheese (which I guess was mixed in.) It came with 2 small chicken legs (bone included) and the egg was whole. It was spicy but I also didn't like the flavor. I was also not a fan of injera. The texture through me off, which was spongey, and it also had a weird taste. All in all I didn't like it. Wasn't for me. Oh, I got the string beans and carrots.... I could eat a whole bowel of that. SO good. My boyfriend however loved all of it. He got a beef dish with tomatoes and green peppers. I ate all his tomatoes. I think if I try ethiopian again I'll go with a veggie dish, but whose to say those string beans and carrots will ever be that good anywhere else? I also got their iced tea. It had a unique flavor too it. I liked it. My boyfriend got a lemonade. That's all we got and the bill was $34.86. (before the living social deal.)
(3)
Rachel E.
Wonderful! Had the combination #2 for 1 and couldn't finish it due to the generous portions. The chef personally came out after and asked if I enjoyed my meal which I felt was a lovely personal touch. Highly recommended!
(5)
Johnny A.
Tried their lunch buffet. The food quality is amazing, but wish they had more variety of meat dishes. Having said that, the lamb stew is excellent, so was the split pea and the tomato salad are first rate. Service is very friendly and prompt and I shall return for more.
Great entrees, lots of veggie options (extra star!), enough quantities, super injeras, very polite and sweet host! Will definitely go back! I wish they had bigger tables though :(
(4)
Phi N.
I came here with 2 of my friends, and we ordered the combo 1, 2, and ... I think it was the lamb tibs. Sorry, it's been a while-- I don't remember which item on the menu it was exactly. Everything was decent, but nothing was amazing. My favorite items were the collard greens and the lamb tibs (probably because it was the saltiest item, and I do love my high blood pressure...). The injera here was really moist. I feel like I eat too much of it though... is it because I'm american? lol. Oh well.
(3)
steve t.
Having tried this restaurant 5 years ago and being underwhelmed, we decided to give it another chance since we had a craving for Ethiopian...and we're glad we did! The wait staff was friendly and helped us pick our entrees once we provided some guidance (meat vs. veggies). The food was delicious...my wife and I went back and forth about which was better... she had the special lamb tibs and I had the chicken Doro We't. I loved the beets and her side of lentils was almost as good. The injera was great with all the dishes. All this and no sticker shock when the bill arrived! Throughout the meal, Chef Mamo came out to check on us and tell us about what we were eating. She let us know that she took over about a year ago, which explains why the food was so much better now than our last visit. Now that we know it's under new ownership, we are sure to return again.
(5)
Vincent L.
So I've never actually had Ethiopian Cuisine, but we wanted to try it out. The 3 of us ordered a Meat Combo #3 and Veggie Combo. Meat Combo - 5 different kinds of meat, cooked various different ways. All were pretty good, except the one where they ask you how you wanted it cooked (raw/medium/well). We went with medium since that was the recommendation by our waitress. Now it wasn't bad, but it was very different. I think just a little bit too different for my taste buds as I did not enjoy it like the rest of the food there. The Veggie Combo was awesome. No Complaints what so ever there. Overall, since this was my first experience with Ethiopian food, i would rate this place as awesome. It's not my fault that I didn't like that one meat dish.
(4)
Deborah N.
Delicious homemade Ethiopian food in downtown Silver Spring. I am far from an expert but enjoyed most items on my veg combo plate. The only thing I didn't like was the collard greens. This is unfortunate as they are one of my favorite vegetables!
(5)
Sue H.
We have been to several of the Ethiopian restaurants in the DC area, and the food at Abol is one of the best. We had one of the meat combination platters with Kitfo (deliciously prepared raw steak). Every dish was full of flavor and the injirah was great as well. Service was a little slow but overall a great experience.
(5)
Anjali B.
Three words: Gluten Free Injera! I got Abol's living social deal, and when I looked at their website, I was thrilled to see that they feature gluten free injera. I have family with Celiac Disease, and it is very unusual to find an Ethiopian place that has wheat-free bread. The food was pretty good. The Yemitin Shero We't had a serious kick to it, so beware if you don't like spicy food. The only dish we didn't like was the Shenbra Asa We't. The description of "chickpea cookies" was more accurate than I assumed - rather than being soft fritters, they really were hard small cookies covered in sauce. The sauce was delicious but the cookies were far too hard. Each entree comes with a side, which was a nice touch. The sides are small, but nice to have for variety. the wheat-free injera cost an extra $4, but that is pretty standard for gluten-free additions, and it was just as good. I tried both versions, and while you could tell the difference between the two, they were similar enough that I probably wouldn't have noticed had I only been served the gluten-free variety. Overall, solid food, polite wait staff, clean restaurant, and a wonderful option for a wheat free diet!
(4)
Monica T.
I recently was in the DC area for work, and you know what that means...Ethiopian food! See, we don't have much of it in Utah so I have to get it when I can, and my hotel was conveniently located next to several highly rated Ethiopian places. I chose this one because they had combination platters. So there I was, watching football and eating my combination #4 and having a great time. Everything was awesome (Yelp rarely lets me down), but I especially enjoyed the beef stew on the upper left of my platter. That stuff was like crack, and I could have eaten so much more. But it was all super tasty, and very complimentary with one another. I wish we had places like this in Utah.
(4)
Vivian H.
My favorite cuisine is Ethiopian. If you want to win my heart over, fill it up with honey wine and lots of injera. I dragged my mom and aunt here for a late lunch. Both of them were Ethiopian cuisine virgins and I had the duty of breaking them in. Now that is a hard task. We ordered a vegetarian combo platter for two ($29.99), and it included stewed cabbage, corn, beets, lentils, garbanzo beans, string beans. It also came with a lot of injera. More than what you would get in NY. Everything was excellent. I highly recommend this place. My only gripe is that the platter was not served on injera but actually served in a ceramic combo dish. It just didnt feel as authentic, but the food made up for it. Low-key and family oriented. No frills, but damn good Ethiopian food. The waitstaff were nice and extremely beautiful.
(4)
A B.
So we tried this place and while the veggie platter was good, there was a major problem. They claimed to bring us all teff (gluten-free) injera but didn't. As a result, celiac hubby was very sick, so sick he missed work the next day. So even if everything else was fine, though it was a bit more expensive than similar places on U street, messing up on gluten-free injera is awful. Gluten-free required, beware!
(1)
Vickie S.
My vegetarian heart loves Ethiopian food so much. There's a couple of good options in Silver Spring, and I'll admit that we went to Abol because of the LivingSocial deal. I hadn't put much thought into the place, even though it's located in the heart of everything - right on Colesville/29, across from the AFI theatre. It's not a big restaurant, but we went out early in the evening and tables were full there was a line forming for seating when we left. That was great to see. Also, apparently there's parking behind the restaurant, which I wish we had known beforehand. You're welcome. My mom hadn't had Ethiopian food in a very long time, and wanted to try it out again, but she's admittedly not very adventurous with her food choices and kind of a spice wimp. She loved the food. We shared the carrots and green beans and a lentil wot, with roasted beets and another lentil side. I think we ate every single lentil that made it to our table - and it's not like portions, particularly with the injera, are small. The spicy, smoky red lentils were phenomenal. The green beans are a sweeter, gingery entree, and while still yummy, didn't make us stuff ourselves like the lentils. The roasted beets side was well prepared, and I have a partiality to beets so I was happy to hear they were an option. Wonderful for a cold day in Midatlantic winter. How often do you extol lentils in writing? Maybe not enough. I'll make a point to come here again.
(4)
Heather J.
This will be a tough review to write. How do you review a restaurant that is perfectly nice, and serves what people say is good food, but it's a type of food you don't like? I'll try..... My experience at the restaurant was lovely, but I just don't care for Ethiopian food! I've tried Ethiopian food three times now, and I just can't get behind it! To me it tastes like less flavorful, pureed Indian food. But I digress. Some of the food we got was quite good (and to other people who do like Ethiopian food, it was probably all very good). The collard greens were yummy, as was the one chicken dish we got, and the green beans with carrots. The honey wine was wayyy too sweet for me, but the server did warn us that it would be very sweet (and I should have guessed by the name of it), but I wanted to try it anyway. I saw some other tables order a dish that was served on a sizzling platter, like fajitas. It looked good - I don't know what it was, but next time (if there is a next time) I'd get that. The Ethiopian bread just isn't my favorite, either - it's like a soggy tortilla. I wish I liked it all more, because I know DC is famous for Ethiopian food, but it's just not for me. The servers at Abol were very nice and the restaurant is conveniently located. If I liked Ethiopian food, I'd go back to Abol - fair?
(3)
Karol L.
Great place, great food, fresh and very clean. Will definitely be back!
(4)
C K.
I went here for lunch. As it turns out the chef's family was there for a mini family reunion. They invited us to join them at their table. We had already ordered, so we politely declined. Great experience. Great people who own and manage this restaurant. The food was fantastic as well.
(5)
Debbie C.
There are a BILLION ethiopian restaurants in downtown Silver Spring and this one is my absolute FAVORITE. They have generous portions, but there's something about the way they cook their food that makes it more delicious than the rest. I always order the vegetarian sampler and steak tibs. That serves 4 people unless you have some serious eaters. WHAT THEY DO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PLACES: they don't put the dishes on top of injara, they keep it in separate dishes. This is nice if you want to take food to go and not have all this leftover injara with the juices all over it.
(5)
Alexander L.
We came here because of the 4 star review on yelp. We were greatly disappointed. The veggies were overcooked as to be tasteless and the spicing as subtle as a 10 pound sledge hammer. The fish was so far gone that even deep frying could not hide the stench of decay. Yuck!
(1)
Alexandra B.
I first have to confess that I am completely new to Ethiopian cuisine, so I have no expertise to offer in terms of this restaurant's authenticity. My boyfriend had been wanting to try Ethiopian food for a long time, so we decided to finally go for it. Since Abol was rated so highly, we figured this was a good place to start. For drinks, we both ordered wine; my boyfriend got the honey wine and I got an Ethiopian red. We found the honey wine to be (surprise!) very sweet but actually pretty tasty. The red wine was a great pairing to the flavors and spices of the food. We ordered some of the lentil pastries to start and found them to be extremely flavorful--just the perfect balance of spice. For the main course, we split combination #1--the vegetarian combo. This comes with a large variety of dishes, and I found that the flavor was equally as diverse. The Yemisir Kik We't (Split Lentil Sauce), Yeater Kik Alicha we't (Yellow Split Pea Sauce), and Qey Sir- (Beets and Potato) to me were all next to perfect, with a great heat level in the lentils, a savory flavor to the split peas, and a wonderful sweetness to the beets. Most of the other dishes [Tikle Gomen (Cabbage), Fosolia Be Carote (String beans and carrots), and Tomato Salad] had a nice taste but didn't leave me craving more. The Gomen We't (Collard Greens) was a bit bland to me, and I wished for some more salt or heat or something to bring the flavors out more. Unfortunately, the thing that I had the most trouble with was the Injera, which I recognize could very well just be that I'm not used to it and need to develop a taste for it. To me, the texture wasn't a problem, as that made it perfect for sopping up food and sauces, but rather the sourish aftertaste. For some reason I found this aftertaste particularly off-putting, and since the Injera is the center of the whole meal, it made it difficult for me to love the meal without full force. I have to say that overall this was a very good restaurant and I would happily support them again. I would be happy to give the bread another chance when I am maybe more prepared for it. The service was very friendly and the place seemed to be well-loved. I was happy to support what is clearly a well-cared-for business in the local community, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to give Ethiopian food a try.
(3)
Amanda S.
So this place is funny because it's not fancy inside and it's not served in the traditional Ethiopian style, but the food is consistently delicious and the service is friendly. We typically get the vegetarian sampler and either tibs or doro wat. Don't let it fool you if it's not packed. This is a great place to eat.
(4)
Dan M.
One of my favorite restaurants in Silver Spring. My wife and I usually share the veggie platter for two - great portions of nice spiced and prepared veggies (we have enough for another meal with the leftovers). The wait staff are always very friendly and helpful, and the restaurant itself is clean and bright inside. We did get the sirloin tips one time and while flavorful they were really chewy, but other than that all the dishes have been spot on. If you like sweet wine try the Ethiopian honey wine.
(4)
Jennifer N.
I'll start by way of two confessions Confession #1- Ethiopic won my undying affection last year, and ever since, I've been reluctant to even try other Ethiopian restaurants. But we had tickets to a show at SilverDocs and wanted to eat at a spot fairly close to the AFI - we had heard good things about Abol and decided to check it out. I was very, very pleasantly surprised - what we ended up with was a meal as good as some of the best Ethiopian restaurants in DC (Etete, Little Ethiopia); true, it wasn't quite as good as Ethiopic, but it was close (and far closer than some of the more popular Ethiopian restaurants, like Dukem). Confession #2- Mandalay is my go-to restaurant in Silver Spring. I've had more room-temperature noodle dishes than I'd care to admit. It's time for me to add something else to my rotation. The dining room itself is a curious space: very sterile, with two mirror-covered closets (?) in the middle of the room. Abol has done little to create ambiance - there's no music, no real decor, just some peach paint on the wall and a few wall-hangings. The menu contains the standard offerings - we had two of the combo platters (which seem like the best deal on the menu - they very comfortably serve two, and they offer a nice sampling of dishes). My standard dish at every Ethiopian restaurant is the veggie sampler, and I was really impressed by Abol's -- each veggie had its own distinctive taste (sometimes I find the veg all taste the same, or they are all over-cooked and sour). The beets were particularly amazing, as were the sharp, cool collard greens. We also had combo #3 which is a meat combo (some beef dishes, and a chicken stew). I wasn't quite as impressed with this one - the stews tasted far more sour. One other note on Abol - it's the only Ethiopian restaurant I've ever tried that doesn't serve the food on a large, round piece of injera. instead, the food comes on a large platter, and they encourage patrons to scoop food onto their plates (the food is actually served with spoons) -- of course, ample injera is provided. At first, I was disappointed but this, but in the end, I actually preferred it (even though it makes for a very crowded table - two big platters, four small plates, etc.) because usually by the time I get to that bottom layer of injera, it's so soggy that it's not appetizing anymore. It's good to know I don't have to venture all the way to H Street to get my Ethiopian kicks. Tips: Dinner for 4 came to $53 with ample leftovers. Parking in the back of the restaurant on weekday and weekend evenings.
(4)
Helene H.
Warm and wonderful service at this little gem of a restaurant. It is cheerful and comfortable and serves excellent food. The injera is especially delicious with a satisfying tang. We shared the vegetarian sampler and the lamb stew, both of which were very good (the lamb stew definitely has a zing to it!). My tea had a faint spice to it which was delightful. Unlike other local Ethiopian places around (except maybe Lesaac Cafe), it serves food in bowls with a basket of injera, instead of on a big tray with dishes arranged on it, which is different (and just as tasty!). I would highly recommend it!
(4)
Eve A.
I'd forgotten how much fun it is to eat with my fingers. I had the vegetarian sampler and enjoyed all of it, and wished there was an Ethiopian restaurant in my town.
(4)
Amy S.
This was one of our favorite Ethiopian places in Silver Spring. Their vegetarian combo is fantastic. They add veggie dishes that I haven't seen in many other places - like beets. Their spicy lentils are exceptional. The owners have also been very friendly in the past. However, their fish is disappointing. Very. And they are disorganized. When trying to call in our order we kept getting voice mail right away. Rather than going somewhere else, my husband stopped in the restaurant to try and place our order and had to tell them their phone was off! They didn't know. Then, he placed our order using the carryout menu we had received elsewhere (the same as their online menu). When he got home with our food, we realized that the tilapia dish we ordered was wrong. We ordered the #3, Juicy Tilapia but received #1, the fried tilapia. We went back and apparently the menu they use in house is not the same as the online/carryout menu and those two items are in reverse places! It was very frustrating and they were not at all apologetic. Then to find how disappointing the juicy tilapia was... (and a small portion for a $13 entree). If we go back (because I'm not sure, there is another fantastic Ethiopian place around the corner from them), we will DEFINITELY stick to the vegetarian combo.
(3)
Jared S.
I love this restaurant! The flavors are amazing and plentiful with every dish we order. Service is good too. Excellent location right on Colesville Rd in Silver Spring across from the Silver Theatre. They now have a lunch buffet with a nice selection of sauces, chicken and an assortment of vegetarian options. A solid helping of food only cost $5! Easily one of the best Ethiopian places in Silver Spring.
(5)
Luma L.
Nice, little restaurant up at Silver Spring! We ordered the vegetarian combo and the food was delicious.. There was a nice variety in the dishes and it was just the right amount for two people... The sambusas were yummy as well... We would definitely return for the food and the very friendly service... :)
(5)
Jennifer G.
I just rolled into Abol for takeout. Their vegetarian combination plate for one was absolutely delicious, and way more food than I could eat. Beets, cabbage, two kinds of lentils, greens and green beans The injera was perfect, tangy and spongy. I came in at 5 pm, before their dinner rush, and they had my food ready in about 10 minutes, which I thought was reasonable. The woman who served me was very pleasant. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Tim H.
Silver Spring has lots of great Ethiopian places but this is definitely my favorite. As with most Ethiopian restaurants, the combination platters are the way to go. I've had several now at Abol and everything has been delicious. The yamasir kik wat (spicy lentils) are truly amazing, which reminds me, it's vegetarian friendly. The restaurant itself is unassuming but the staff is very nice and the service quick. There are cheaper places but the value here is still great.
(5)
Belle B.
Since moving to the DMV, I've developed a fondness for Ethiopian food. From reviews of several restaurants, it sounds like that's a common trend. Abol is wonderful in that their selection provides a great opportunity to try a number of dishes. And, if you're a little unsure of getting your hands truly "dirty" by eating out of a "family style" large platter, they provide individual dishes for you to scoop your desired portion into. Personally, I prefer to tearing off a piece of injera and pinching up some delicious food from the communal plate, but I've grown up with family-style dinners. Taste-wise, I love Abol's dry tibs and kitfo (for meat lovers). Of their vegetable choices, I enjoy the mixed veggie combination dish but I'm not a fan of how they serve it, 2 dishes in one bowl on an attached 3-bowl set. (There are 6 veggie dishes in the combo dish). I did like the last time I was there how attentive the server was with refilling my water. I've noticed at the Ethiopian restaurants I've been to they don't refill glasses as often, which I would love if they did more. Overall, Abol is a good place to experience Ethiopian cuisine and the kitfo and tibbs are amazing!
(4)
Stephanie G.
I am simply in love with this place! I live in Maryland and really didn't want to have to drive to DC everytime I had a hankering for good Ethiopian food. After trying a few other place in the area, going as far as Burtonsville, MD - this place is hands down my favorite. The place is small yet charming. It's in an unassuming spot on Colesville Road in downtown silver spring. In a place so cluttered with chain style places to eat, finding a small family run place with great food is a treaure. Yes, they don't serve the food on the big platter of injera. I don't care for real..it's too tasty for me to care. The Yemisir Wet is the best I've ever eaten. The portion sizes are great for the price and you have leftovers to eat the next day.Or you can do an order of Tibs with the veggie combo as well. Tummy joy, I say. The service is really nice. Attentive, but not fussy. You can always tell something about a restaurant when the food in the place is native to clientele. Abol is always full of Ethiopian locals looking for a good meal. If you are in the area and love Ethiopian food - Abol is not to be missed.
(5)
Pia M.
This is the only Ethiopian food I've ever had but I cannot imagine it getting any better than this. Their lunch and dinner combination meals are amazingggg. My favorite is the Yemisir Kik We't (Split Lentil Sauce) and Yeater Kik Alicha We't (Yellow Split Pea Sauce). The spongey Ethiopian bread each dish comes with is also soft and yummy (although a somewhat acquired taste/texture) and helps quell the spice. You get a ton of food for the price you pay.
(5)
Alexander F.
Food was delicious but my girlfriend and I both vomited after we got home!! (We had the veg platter and coffee). Beware!!
(1)
Kayla S.
I tried Ethiopian food for the first time at Abol's this summer and I've been eating there at least twice a month ever since. The food is good, the customer service is great and after 6:30pm or so there is free (and plentiful) parking in the lot behind the restaurant.
(4)
Sara M.
I've been working my way through the region's Ethiopian restaurants, trying the kitfo and vegetarian platters everywhere I go. I've passed Abol dozens of times on my way to other Silver Spring Ethiopian establishments... and finally decided to stop in and give them a try! They're right across from the AFI Silver, so you can take in dinner and a show! I was surprised when our food arrived in fancypants serving dishes instead of family-style on top of a piece of injera. I love how the injera soaks up all of the sauces and juices from the dishes - sometimes the injera that's been underneath your favorite dish is the most delicious part of the meal! This was more elegant, but I definitely prefer the more traditional serving style. All of the vegetarian dishes were delicious, and they've got some different flavors and textures from the other restaurants in the neighborhood. It's always nice to get some variation. The kitfo had an amazingly smooth texture and an herbal taste that we couldn't quite place (like basil, but not quite). Mmmm. I think I still like Langano the best, but I'm glad to know that Abol is also a delicious option in downtown Silver Spring!
(4)
Rachel P.
Great food, all around. Especially important for us, they do a great job packaging up take-out to keep all your food at its best for the trip home. (We've found take-out packaging to be an option with other good local Ethiopian restaurants.)
(5)
Jennifer K.
Though the waitresses definitely move at their own pace (i.e., Slow as dirt), they are so lovely & sweet (especially when they hang behind the bar and chat in low tones and gaze at you while you wonder when they are going to realize that you finished eating 10 minutes ago and would Like Your Freaking Check) that it's hard to get impatient with them. I actually find myself wondering "what's the hurry? I should really learn to slow down & enjoy myself." Besides, I don't go to Abol for the speedy service. I go there for the spiciest, savoriest split lentils, and the tenderest, butteriest cabbage & collard green dishes, and the most gorgeously sweet and earthy beets, and the heavenly yellow lentils & the tangiest, tenderest injera ever. I order the Combo 1 (veg platter for 1) & it runs me about $15 -- but it's really enough for two meals. Especially if you order the sambussas -- which are crispy morsels of spicy goodness. I just can't really get over the beauty of the flavors at Abol. I love Ethiopian cuisine & there are still quite a number of places I haven't tried in DC - but, so far, this little Silver Spring is one of my favorites. Side notes: If I ever manage to get over my obsession with the veg combo, I'll definitely order the tibs. They come on a sizzling platter and, when they are brought out, the most delectable aroma fills the space. Mouth-watering. If you order tea, they will bring you a nice selection to choose from & a pot of hot water spiced with cinnamon and cardamon. Lovely. They do serve beer & wine & offer espresso drinks, too. The baklava is served with warm, gooey honey poured on -- not my favorite -- but for those who like it like that, it's a Gigantic piece of baklava.
(4)
Tochi K.
If you are new to Ethiopian food, Abol is where you want to start off. They have pretty good Ethiopian food, nice staff, and very decent pricing. Abol is also where you want to dine with a vegetarian friend (or if you happen to be one yourself). We went on a LivingSocial deal and were out to sample a little bit of everything. For starters, their lentil Samboosas (samosas) are the best I've had--tangy, well spiced, not oily, and full of deliciousness. For entrees, we went for 2 combination platters: the Vegetable Combination #1 for one and the Meat Combination #2 for one. This was more than enough (lots of left overs) for my husband and I and is served with Injera (Ethiopian flat bread). This really is the best way to sample their food. The vegetable combo has red/split peas, yellow lentils, collard greens, cabbage (yum), string beans (yum!), and beets (super yum!). I enjoyed the vegetable dish the most. They were all fresh, well prepared, and healthy. The meat dish has lamb, chicken, spiced beef, and regular beef stews, as well as collard greens and a tomato/onion relish. If you are new to Ethiopian food, my best description of the meat dishes (which were all pretty good) is that they are deeply spiced; and this is NOT saying that they were over-spiced or too hot, just that they are richly spiced. The staff were very kind but a bit slow and not as attentive as they could have been--they don't check on you but are very attentive and accommodating when you get their attention. One of the servers didn't seem to speak English well but ultimately communicating wasn't an issue. This was my 3rd Ethiopian dining experience in the DC area and they top my list. I will definitely go back.
(4)
A S.
My fav ethiopian restaurant. The vegetarian platter is to die for. Great service, the lady (who I believe is the owner) was very friendly and attentive.
(5)
Dee S.
I've only eaten here twice, but enjoyed it both times. The food was very good; I really liked the beet entree, which adds variety to the menu. The service seemed good both times.
(5)
Amanda K.
Move over U St....you've got a playa in the 'burbs. Wasn't expecting much, despite the great reviews the other Yelpers have given (I'm a bit of an Ethiopian food snob...for as much as a Jewish girl from MoCo can be). Place was pretty empty when my friend and I arrived, so service was prompt. Friend ordered the kifto raw (told ya, go big or go home) and once the surprise faded from the server's face, she realized this wasn't our first rodeo (damn Dr. Phil...) Injera was sour, spongey and delicious...tibs were perfect, kifto was amazing, lamb soup was full of gamey goodness. Why 4 stars and not 5? The gonen was respectable, but bring a gonen freak, ultimately disappointing. Also, they serve the meal in dishes instead of on top of a big, injera draped platter...that soggy sponge bread at the end is the best part!
(4)
Frank G.
Well, I was really looking forward to trying what most reports said was good, authentic Ethiopian in Silver Spring. Went for an early dinner after work, and when I arrived there were only about eight other customers. I waited 10 minutes for my menu and a waitress to take my drink order (while the next table over, with two Ethiopian men, was doted on by three different servers). Waitress takes my order and returns 5 minutes later with my beer and a water. The beer is flat and tastes off. The waitress is nowhere to be found. I catch one of the other servers and send back the beer, asking for a YuengLing. My original server comes back about 5 minutes later to say they don't have it. I get her to get me an Ethiopian beer. And wait...and wait... and wait. She just never came back! After another 15 minutes (I timed it this time), I left. Terrible service. If you can't even get it together to get me a drink in over a half hour, I'm not gonna wait around.
(1)
Carrie P.
My husband and I have tried about 6 or 7 different Ehtiopian places in the DC/Silver Spring area. Abol tops our list in every way! Once we found Abol, we felt like our search was over. We have been there about 3 or 4 times now and it has never disappointed us. It is the most delicious food for a very reasonable price. I do agree with previous reviewers who said it would be nice if the platter was served on injera as opposed to the ceramic dish, but frankly, the food to me is so delicious it makes up for it. It's a lovely little spot with a DELICIOUS vegetarian combo platter!
(5)
Richard H.
The best and most consistent Ethiopian restaurant in Silver Spring, and there are a lot to choose from. The veggie combo is always a winner, but if you want to eat meat, try the doro wat, yebeg tibs or kitfo.
(4)
Lee T.
Ethiopian food is definitely an experience, mainly because it's not as widely available as say Italian food. First thing to note is that you do eat with your hands (so wash them), and the second thing is that the menu takes a lot of reading. This is why I like this place so much, they have combo meals, several dishes paired together in smaller portions, so you can get a macro introduction to meat and vegetarian dishes. The portions are pretty big, I would say any of the combos for 2, and will more than adequacy feed a family of four. For a party of 6, I ordered combo 1 and combo 2 (2 people portions); more than enough delicious food for everyone.
(4)
Sabrina R.
My kids had previously gone to Abol and raved about it. They even asked me to write a review on their behalf, before I even tried the place, because they loved it so much. My kids are real foodies .They and I appreciate good authentic ethnic food. So, when the kids asked to go to Abol for dinner last night, I knew that they had found a gem. We shared a combination platter for 2. The food was plentiful and delicious. The staff was friendly and attentive. I and the kids especially like the spicy dishes. We will be going to Abol again and again.
(5)
Katherine L.
Perhaps the day we went they weren't at their best, but I had hoped for a better experience. Don't get me wrong, it was still tasty, but I can't honestly give it a 4-star review. 3.5 or maybe even 3.75 stars, but not 4. We ordered 1 veggie platter for 2 people. The food came out very quickly, which is great for hungry people. Most of the times, I assume that Ethiopian food is prepared in advance and left to stew and simmer for the spices to absorb better into the dishes. If it's made in advance and stored in some fashion, that's ok, just make sure to heat it up past lukewarm! The injera was a bit drier than I had hoped for... it would've been ok to use it to create fitfit/salad, or as the base layer.... but I was not that excited about it as the eating vehicle. Normally, I can't eat enough injera, but this time, I was only excited to use it to eat the food. Now the food they give in the combination looks beautiful in its presentation. 7 different dishes of varying colors and flavors. The kiki wat (split peas) was alright, but not as flavorful as hoped. The greens and green beans were my two favorite dishes, delightful! The cabbage dish was prepared differently than other Ethiopian restaurants, so the flavor was a bit stronger, in a good way. There was also a beet dish, which was wonderful if you like beets, but only so so if you are seeking spice and bold flavor. The Ethiopian tomato salad was great. The last and least flavorful dish was some sort of kik alicha. I usually adore this dish, but this one left me wanting something from the U Street corridor. One final food note: salt. While I'm not an avid salter of food, I did feel this food needed more salt. Overall, the food is good if you're hungry, but I wouldn't choose this over other places in DC. It doesn't help that the price is steeper than any other Ethiopian restaurant at which I've dined ($15 for the sampler). I think another chance might fare better, but from this first visit, I'm not keen on returning too soon.
(3)
M J.
I'm a believer! I tried Ethiopian cuisine twice in West Philly, and both times were a disappointment. From that experience, I gave up hope that Ethiopian food and I are not meant to be. After encouragement from a fellow colleague, I decided to give it one more chance. We went to Abol for lunch and ordered combo# 2 and 3. Everything was good! The food was flavorful and some dishes were spicy, but not overwhelmingly spicy. The waitress offered us complimentary coffee because it was their New Years on the day that we came in. I'm motivated now to find good Ethiopian restaurants in Philly.
(4)
Mark O.
Ordered the veggie combo. The yemiser watt (red lentils) was one of the best renditions of this dish I have had in the DC area. The rest of the combo was forgettable. I would give. Three stars for the lentils alone. Unfortunately, my lentil-induced bliss was destroyed by the sight of a roach climbing the wall next to me.
(3)
Judy C.
A group of co-workers had lunch at Abol's today and it was great. We had combination platter #4 that included lentils, doro wat, spiced beef and lamb and special tibs - the flavors and spices were incredible! So delicious. They also recommended a sweet red Ethiopian wine that was great. The food came out within 1015 minutes and the service was wonderful. I will be going back with lots of friends. Go, Go, Go!
(5)
Sharon L.
I have found my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant! The best thing is that the food tastes awesome, food was served promptly, service great, there was plenty of parking behind the restaurant and I don't have to wait two hours to get a table!! I have to say that my fav is still Dukem out in DC, but I really hate having to drive out to DC and then find parking a gazillion blocks away and then trek my way down to the restaurant and finally get to Dukem and have to wait 2 hours for a table on a Saturday night. The hubby and I tried out Abol after I purchased a coupon ($10 for $20 worth of food) on Eversave.com . Let's just say that I am so glad that I did. If not, I would never have gone all the way to Silver Spring to check this place out. We went on a Saturday evening and there was plenty of tables. The restaurant was very clean and had modern decor. The service was prompt and the food comes out in very pretty white plates, rather than your traditional Ethiopian round platter with the food on top of the injera. We ordered the lamb tibs served on a sizzling platter (similar to the meat in steak fajitas) and it was a HUGE portion and so flavorful. If you are adventurous, I'd highly reccomend the kitfo (beef tartare) ... and order it RAW, baby! It was melt in your mouth goodness, and the spices and tender raw beef was prepared in perfection, and the homemade cheese just tops it off!! If you just can't do it raw, they do cook it to your preference. The vegetable sides are also very delicious. Remember to get the beets. I've never seen an Ethiopian restaurant serve up beets, but heard this was a specialty of Abol only and it was soooooo good. Their stewed cabbage, lentils with red sauce, and tomato salad are also very flavorful. Overall, we had such a great experience and I will definitely be back often when I need my fix of great Ethiopian food!
(5)
Dana S.
I was excited to try this place and came away disappointed. They clearly catered to people new to Ethiopian food, and I was with a fairly experienced group. They served the food on platters rather than on a round injera, which I disliked, and we even asked to have our food served on the injera and they didn't understand. The food was good, but no better then I've had at other Ethiopian places in the area. The honey wine (tej) was very good. The server was not great, she was easily confused, but the manager sorted her out. It wasn't a bad experience, but I'm also not excited to return here.
(2)
Robert M.
Food was very good. They have gluten free injera which was larger than the pieces at other tables. I assume it was made to order. My w I've and I split an entree and got an additional side. With the large portions of injera it was plenty. Food was spicy but could have been hotter. All in all, we will return. And with friends!
(4)
James W.
I've been to Abol twice and had combo # 3 both times. The food is great, as many reviews have noted, and the staff is very friendly. The combos are meant for two people, but it's enough food for three unless you're a big eater. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Pano P.
Awesome. Really, really, really good and (at least with my inexperienced eyes) extremely authentic Ethiopian cuisine
(5)
Diana C.
This is the one Ethiopian restaurant in downtown Silver Spring that I had been meaning to try for forever, but never got around to it. Recently, I finally had the opportunity. The whole setup is a bit different than the usual DTSS Ethiopian place. It's a bit more modern with its shiny, bright, and happy interior. The location is on the block across Colesville Road from the AFI Theatre, which is usually the northern boundary of OMG SO FAR AWAY for my lazy ass. At any rate, we ordered the vegetarian combo and an order of kitfo (raw!!!!!!!).... Impressions: - Each person had a plate at the table. There goes 75% of the available table space. I didn't even use it, and I don't think my two dinner companions did either. - The food came out on several individual serving plates with spoons (!) instead of on a communal platter lined with injera. I for one prefer the huge platter: it's easy to work around with other people, and the whole thing (mmm leftover random soaked injera) is edible. Also, there goes any extra table space. Our table was totally cramped and it was hard to share and move things around. + The vegetarian combo was amazing. Nice flavor and color. It had yams and beets: two veggies I truly love and I have not seen at other local DTSS Ethiopian restaurants. + The kitfo was super good. It seemed to be almost creamy in consistency. Not overly buttered or greasy, and it seemed to have a bit of either basil or mint (?) added to it, which lent a nice flavor. It came with two cheeses (I couldn't differentiate between them flavor-wise) and some greens as well. -/+ The service was ok. Friendly enough, but a bit slow at times. Glad to have tried it, and I will definitely be returning, if only for the veggie combo platter. YUM.
(4)
Zachary H.
Abol serves up Ethiopian food with a somewhat modern twist. If you're looking for Ethiopian food that is a little different from the standard fare, this is the place to go. Though Abol's somewhat sterile interior is very different from most of the other vibrant Ethiopian restaurant interiors in the rest of Washington, Abol's food makes up for it. My wife and I tried Combination #4, which included a standard chicken stew (with boiled egg), ground beef, a unique grilled chicken stew, lentils and traditional Ethiopian collard greens. Each was very tasty, particularly the lentils, which were different from any other Ethiopian lentils than I've ever tried. A table next to ours ordered the grilled tibbs, which also looked (and smelled) excellent! The service was pretty good, though our soft drinks were served without ice. I found that a bit strange. Other than that, we were very impressed.
(4)
Doug G.
Their vegetarian combo is fantastic - the beets are a particularly nice addition to the vegetarian selection. Everything tastes fresh and isn't too oily. The service is both warm and professional. It's my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the DC area. The perfect place to grab a meal before or after catching a flick at the AFI Silver Theatre, a concert at the Fillmore, or just visiting downtown Silver Spring.
(5)
Rohan P.
This place is closed on Mondays. Gee, I wish I didn't have to work on Mondays. Maybe I should apply to Abol, because when I went, there was only one server. But she really handled the lunch crowd just fine. It wasn't all that crowded, and she seemed to have a personal relationship with half the room, but still pretty impressive. I've had Ethiopian food several times. I would say Abol serves authentic Ethiopian without the frills. The tables are full height and you sit in chairs. Also, the food isn't served on a platter with the meats, veggies and sauces laid out on the injera. The injera here is wrapped up like a hot towel and served in a little basket on the side. The atmosphere is very non-traditional other than the music. Well, I guess the music was traditional, ...it sounded Ethiopian, or at least African. I really haven't kept up too well with the Ethiopian music scene recently, you'll have to forgive me. But I have kept up with Ethiopian food, and the food here was authentic and pretty good. I got the Lunch special, which is a good deal for $7.99. The bummer is they only offer you a meat option OR veggie option for the lunch special, each exclusive of any of the other. I didn't really like that. My co-worker and I both needed our protein, so I'll have to try their vegetable dishes some other time. The dishes come out in these little white trays, sectioned into three compartments, each holding a different sauce and meat. My favorite was the sauce with the chicken leg, and the beef tibs was pretty spicy. You also get three injera rolled up into a basket, which when unfurled each approximate the size of an Elephant Ear. I'm sorry for the crude comparison, I attended a lot of State Fairs as a child. The injera was good, and there was just enough to accompany each dish. The strength of this meal has put Abol squarely into my lunch rotation. Once I try the vegetables, and some other dishes, I'm sure I'll have a better grasp on the restaurant as a group dinner destinache. But it's definitely a good spot for lunch in Downtown Silver Spring.
(3)
Lisa B.
Terrific Ethiopian food. This is our go-to place when we're in the mood. While the restaurant is not very fancy or pretty, the food certainly makes up for the decor. Our standard order is the vegetable platter, a meat dish (lamb we't) and an extra serving of the yellow split peas. Even the kids scarf down the collard greens. This month (April 2011), though, they're offering a "Hudade Special Combo", where a variety of dishes is served on injera on a large platter. Nice to have Ethiopian served this way instead of Abol's usual of serving it in dishes.
(4)
Yoseph A.
Pretty good place for Ethiopian food. I would go there once a week or so. Good Abol Tibs and Kitfo. Shiro is good too. When done please ask for macciato.
(4)
S. G.
I decided to try somewhere different than my usual haunts. So glad I did! We got the veggie sampler plate. So good - flavorful, abundant foods, etc. Two thumbs up!
(4)
Mr F.
Very good Ethiopian food. Price is comparable to most Ethiopian restaurants. Try the beef tips. The enjera they use is among the best I tasted in area. Host are a little slow to return to table but overall experience is enjoyable.
(4)
andrew s.
Still the best I've had. Go.
(4)
Leyali R.
Date night dinner at Abol tonight, and we were impressed. The size and decor of the place make you feel like you are in the cozy kitchen of an Ethiopian grandmother, and the home-style dishes were really delicious. Husband ordered a Meta beer and noted its similarity to ethiopian 'tej' with a sweet taste. I ordered the vegetarian platter and he ordered the fried fish with green salad. Our waitress was very polite, and the service was relaxed and casual, which we liked. My vegetarian platter was sheer delight. My favorite tastes lay with the amazing green beans with carrot, the sweet-yet-firm beets, and the yellow lentil sauce. However, the collard greens, cabbage, and spicier red lentils did not disappoint either. They possessed the perfect blend of spices, oil and veggie variety- I truly felt I was eating a fantastic home cooked meal. The injera was beautifully soft, moist, and tangy. Husband's fish dish smelled (and according to him, tasted) delicious. I tried a bit of the green salad it came with and was pleasantly surprised by the fresh lemon juice dressing- it seemed to be a perfect compliment to a fried fish dish. Hub confirmed my suspicions by actually tasting this combination and thoroughly enjoying it, and was also pleased the dish came with two large fillets. The owner of the restaurant came by to check on us, and we appreciated his attentiveness. Overall, we loved this place, and will definitely be back on any night we're in the mood for delicious home style ethiopian cooking! Hub in particular noted he liked it better than Dukem. As good as it gets indeed!
(5)
Laura W.
Had a random craving for Ethiopian, and saw the good reviews on Yelp for Abol in Silver Spring. It's a tiny little spot, but was pretty full even at about 8pm on a Sunday. We got the Combination #4 so that we could try some of the meats & veggies. Plus, I love lentils so that's always a plus for me! The food was so good - just the right amount of heat & spices - but I think my favorite in our combo was the collard greens & the beef stew. Definitely check it out!
(4)
Cliff E.
Okay- the injera was tangy, but the food was so-so. We got the veggie sampler and the red beans were good but the rest wasn't spicy. Maybe we got the non-African version. the price was reasonable and our out of town visitor enjoyed her meat sampler- atmosphere was so-so but the service (which I had been warned was bad) was fairly swift. So overall- okay, just. Better than Langano, or Addis Abba. full height tables so you aren't stooping over your plate like Addis. At 10:15 PM the place was filling up with E-Americans, who looked like they were having better stuff than us.
(3)
PAUL G.
Wonderful Ethiopian food. Not a large restaurant so groups (4+) may have to wait 15-25 minutes for tables to clear as most of hte table seatings are for 2. The Saturday night I ate there, folks decided to wait it out - it was very crowded but the service was not slow and food was hot and very good. Had Combo #1 (veggie) and Shiro--some of the best in the DC Area.
(4)
Angela M.
Ohhhhh, I've been procrastinating on this one.... I ate here Sunday night with my non-epicurious hubby. He didn't complain too much about eating foreign food and I appreciate that very much (if you ever read this). We even discovered something we really liked in the process. That up there. That's a 3.5. Here's the dilemma. I've only had Ethiopian food once and that was this time. I have no experience and I'm afraid that I just didn't really like what we ordered. He ordered the meat sampler and I ordered the veggie sampler. There were some items that I liked off of mine and off of his, but I'm afraid that it's not something that I really want to do again. It sorta reminds me of Indian food and I'm just ok about Indian food. I'm in love with Asian cuisine and Mexican and a lot in between, but this is out of the ordinary for my food conquests. I did like the chicken, lamb and steak with carrots off the meat platter, I liked the beets, tomato salsa, carrots and green beans off the veggie platter, but I wasn't crazy about any of it. I did like the fact that the rolled bread (Injera) was in a basket on the side. However, I thought the bread was kind of tart and spongy. I'm sure it's supposed to be like that, but hubbs and I were talking about how nice it would be to put some of that in our shoes when we run or using it as a floor covering. Spongy, stretchy, sort of rubbery and filled with bubbles. Don't you want to walk on it too, now? The service was polite and quick. The manager was very nice and made sure to point out what everything was and how to eat it. I think he really liked the fact that we came into try the food, 'cause he had this huge grin on his face. The saving grace of the meal (aka the reason why hubby didn't kill me) was the baklava. Wow - hands down the best either of us have ever had. It was nice and warm, good portion size and drizzled lightly with honey. Mmmmm! I know we will be back for dessert. They also had Tiramisu on their dessert menu, we thought about it briefly, but went with just one. There was one thing I was really curious about. The server walked passed us with someone's order of what looked like fajitas. It was meat and veggies sizzling on a hot plate and it smelled so GOOD. If we go back, I'll try that, we'll get the baklava again and I'll sneak some of that Injera out so I can put it in my shoes!
(3)
Keri W.
I wasn't aware that Ethiopian cuisine was really big in DC until I arrived and started seeing these restaurants on every street corner! While staying right down the street from Abol, I read that this was one of the best places for Ethiopian so I had to see for myself. I wasn't sure what to expect as far as flavors and style of food this was going to be. I ordered the doro we't (chicken stew) since it was crowned the national dish of Ethiopia. I gotta say, the food here was absolutely amazing! Service was slow but the staff were extremely friendly. I loved everything about the food. I'd eat here all the time if I were a local. Will definitely be back on my 'to-do' list when visiting again!
(5)
jamie l.
Ordered the meat sampler and the veggie sampler. Bottom line: Tons of places in the Atlas district and north Silver Spring with better offerings. Lamb tibs were overcooked and bland, lentils lacked texture. String beans and carrots had a great flavor, but awful texture. Kitfo was quite bland. The lamb stew was above average, the other stews below average. Injera was solid. Service was quite poor; but may be due to the fact that it was somewhat late and we chose to sit outside. Unless you're dying for Ethiopian in downtown Silver Spring, eat somewhere else.
(2)
Brian S.
Abol is a relatively new addition to Silver Spring and it is a welcome addition. Abol is located across the street from the AFI Silver Theatre and is easy to miss by car or on foot (as isn't much pedestrian traffic on that side of the street), but it definitely worth stopping in. I shared a combo platter with my girlfriend and we were stuffed. The beef and veggie dishes were full of spice and were very tasty. The prices were pretty reasonable and service was speedy. It was a quiet weekday night so there was adequate seating and we were able to leisurely enjoy the meal. The food is served on funky dishes and the injera comes in a basket on the side. This is different than most Ethiopian restaurants I've been to, but it just means that injera isn't being wasted getting all soggy underneath the food (note: this could be seen as a bad thing if the mushy, soaked injera is your favorite part of the meal). The decor is simple and if you sit near the window you can watch cars rolling along Colesville (or sitting if its rush-hour) and take in the glow from the AFI sign across the street.
(5)
ankur r.
Vegetarian combo plater Yuck! Exceptionally bland and the food was cold!! I felt like I was eating raw vegetables... Never going there again!
(2)
Lauren H.
The vegetarian sambussa pastries are both decadent and healthy, like all good lentil appetizers should be. The veggie combo is huge and delicious--I can't get enough of the meaty red lentil stew and the green beans that practically melt on your injera. But the crowning glory of Abol is its coffee. Every sip transports you--gives you a taste of that bean from green birth to picking to roasting--makes you feel as if you are ingesting an entire vegetable garden's worth of flavors and textures with every measure of liquid that passes over your tongue. Most coffee leaves me with an upset stomach and a crazed mind; this coffee felt like a elixir from above. Go, eat food, and linger over a cup of that brew.
(4)
F D.
We were headed to a movie across the street and stumbled upon Abol's. We split a veggie platter - the portion size was huge. We couldn't even finish it all. The food was good, but not as good as our favorite Ethiopian place.
(4)
sunmaid r.
Had carryout here recently, and it seems the portions have gone down while prices have gone up. Veggie combo for two was same size as veggie combo for one I've had in the past! This is a bummer since the food here is generally pretty decent.
(2)
Leon G.
Had the Combination#2 w Ingera. Superb sampler of stews, lentils, and collards. Nice portion sizes and intriguing, piquant tastes. It's been a long time since I ate Ethiopian food and this was a welcome return feast. Very friendly and rapid service. Highly recommended.
(4)
Sarah R.
So Yummy! While the atmosphere could be better, the good food and friendly staff makes up for it. I always go for the veggie combo, and it has been consistently delicious.
(4)
Aditi R.
Really good food-nice service! The portions are huge and the food tastes really good-i will definitely go back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Shana K.
First time trying Ethiopian food, and it was delicious. The wine tasted funny on it's own, but with the food, it was great. Definitely recommend getting a combination platter to share in order to try all different things.
(4)Amanda I.
The food here was good. I got the combination platter #2 for one and my friend got the vegetable platter for one. Platter #2 had Doro wat, which was great, comes with a chicken leg and a hard boiled egg in a brown flavorful sauce. It also came with a lamb stew dish which was my favorite the sauce had great flavor and the lamb was cooked well. It had a ground beef dish which was good the sauce tasted good, the beef was ground in a way that it almost had the texture of lentils. It came with another chicken portion that was ok did not have much flavor and collard greens which added a good vegetable component. My friend enjoyed the vegetable platter (which all the vegetable dishes are also vegan!) The service was also good, the waitress made sure we had enough water the whole time and answered all the questions we had. The food came out quickly too, probably in about 5-8 minutes. The serving of the platters was not as fun as some Ethiopian places where they lay out a piece of injera and pile the food on, it was just on the plates. On the table there are some facts and tips about the food, my favorite one is something about if you are on a date feed each other the food by hand for a romantic experience, had to laugh at that one! I would come back to this restaurant!
(4)Rehana A.
***Updated Review Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned a FAST FOOD Ethiopian place. The point of mentioning a fast food Ethiopian place was to say that IF YOU WANT MEDIOCRE FOOD then you might want to patron Abol. There are plenty of other Ethiopian places to try in Silver Spring. I would definitely give them a try. Food was terrible. Ordered a meat special and a veggie special combo for two. Got two pieces of meat and the veggies were full of oil. Save yourself and go to Ethio Express down the street
(1)Gordon B.
This place was great. It was my first Ethiopian experience and it was fantastic. They explained the customs, which really helped me understand why no utensils were used. We ordered a stew sampler, and everything tasted great!
(4)Ellen K.
I've lived in Silver Spring for 6 years now, and Abol is still my favorite Ethio restaurant (keeping in mind that I'm vegetarian, so I've obviously never had any meat entrees).The flavor is hands-down the best of all the veggie platters I've tried in the area. The beets are simply the best of any place I've tried and their green & carrots (fosolia) seems to be baked because its flavorful and almost chewy, instead of bland and watery. However, the food is prepared way too oily. It's the norm to see their veggie sides sitting in a pool of oil, unfortunately. While some people may not care, I personally would much rather have half the oil, because with the amount of oil being used, cutting it by that much probably would =not impact the flavor much. Also, I noticed that their portions have shrunk a bit since the new management. All in all though, if health factors were not a priority, I would still choose Abol for my Ethio dining.
(4)Lynie H.
Great Ethiopian food..and the honey beer is sweet and delicious :-) We got the combo platter and #15 beef tibs. We had no room for dessert. They put everything on one big platter if u choose.
(3)Kassity L.
We love the food here. We typically order one of their platters, which offer a pretty good sampling of different meats and flavor profiles. My favorite is the lamb that comes with a couple of the combo platters, which comes in a creamy and sweet stew. I've always thought that everything is really well seasoned and prepared -- having come across anything that was too salty, or where the meat was overcooked. If you run out of injera bread, they also offer to bring you more. The only reason I'm not giving this place 5 stars is because the service isn't always good. Sometimes you're kept waiting quite awhile before the waitress will bring you the check. When they're not busy though, their service is decent.
(4)Langdon A.
Visiting an area known for its Ethiopian restaurants (and from a place with only one in town), we had expectations of a good meal. Well, I'm sorry to say we were disappointed with our visit to Abol. I'll mention the positives first, because they won't take long: the service was quite good, and the sambossas stuffed with a tasty lentil mix were nice. But we shared a vegetarian combo, and that's where it all went downhill. With the exception of the brownish/reddish lentils, every other item - the beets to the beans & carrots to the yellow lentils to the cabbage - was disappointing. The food simply was not flavorful and, therefore, was not enjoyable. Several other notes: - I prefer when the combos are served atop a large piece of injera rather than in a serving dish as they are here. - The prices were so-so, especially considering the modest condition of the dining room. The "economies of scale" for when you order a combination for multiple people were quite modest (I think the second person gets added for only a $1 less than the first).
(2)Cicely P.
Really excellent food and very inexpensive. I'm obsessed with the Lega Beef Tibs. The sauce is heavenly.
(4)Yu H.
I don't have a whole lot of experience with Ethiopian food to compare this with so I'll just judge it based on my own tastes. The restaurant looks clean without any frills. The waitress was nice and friendly. The service was quick. It's recommended that you eat the food without silverware by scooping it up with some sort of pancake bread they give you. I ordered the lunch portion of the spicy lamb stew. The lamb was well cooked but was rather bland compared to what I was expecting. It wasn't really spicy at all. The injera (pancake bread) had a sour taste but otherwise flavorless. Like I said, I'm not sure how this compares to traditional Ethiopian food but to me, it lacked flavor.
(3)Kristin L.
Consider me hooked on Ethiopian food. I was new to Ethiopian food so my only preconceived notion was that it was going to involve meat and spices, therefore I was in with both feet and a piece of injera in my hand. Never have I been so joyful to have grease running down my hand through the little holes in the bread! I ordered the 'meat' 4 sample combo. NOM. NOM. NOM. Everything was very saucy, but not soupy. I loved how the chicken sample came with a hard boiled egg (who cares which came first?!). There was also a lamb dish, a beef dish and what I think was an oxtail dish. Did I say NOM NOM NOM?? One of my friends felt the food wasn't spicy hot enough, but he's crazy. There were plenty of meat and vegetarian options, which was impressive, samples and whole dishes. I'm pretty carb conscious so I was a little worried that I would fill up on injera, but was pleased to find that was not at all the case. This is not 'glam' dining, there's no see or be seen here. The dining room is very basic, the waitress very kind, if not a tad on the soft-spoken side, but at one point a woman I assume was the owner, came to our table to ask how everything was - it's a small gesture, but I think it goes a long way. Just as soon as the orange stains have faded from my fingers, I will be back (and I will be looking up how to cook Ethiopian food for myself!). And I want to experience the coffee ceremony.
(4)Steven U.
This is my first foray into Ethiopian food. We ordered the combination #1 (vegetables) and combination #3 (meat) and sambossa. I have no frame of reference to compare but this place made a great first impression. Flavors and textures were foreign but delightful. I need to try out some Ethiopian places in Los Angeles.
(5)Phuong H.
We tried the meat lovers combo #2 and #4 and loved them! Combo #2 had chicken stew, lamb stew, two types of beef stew, and collard greens. Combo #4 had chicken stew, two types of beef stew, split lentils, split peas, and collard greens. Everything was delicious, especially the split lentils! The lamb was a bit chewy, but I didn't mind. The portions may seem a bit small, but really fill you up when eaten with injera - we had tons of leftovers afterward! Oh, and the service was also great.
(5)Mimmm T.
I am a native of Ethiopia and I have to say the food at abol is very bad. I came with my family for dinner . The atmosphere and the service was good . We ordered the lamb special, kittfo, and vegetarian combo. The lamb was cooked right but it was watery and bland. The kittfo and 2 of the vegetarian options were the only ones with a little bit of flavor. I would not recommend this place . If you want great Ethiopian food look at other restaurants near by.
(2)Timothy C.
Walked by Abol 4-5 times, but never knew what Ethiopian food was. SO glad I tried it. 8 of us for a Sunday lunch. Abol makes a big deal of the fact that you don't use silverware with an explanation on the table that has something to do with a clock made out of silverware. Instead, they bring out a plate of injera, which is a mix between a pita and a pancake, but looks like old T-shirt. Don't be fooled, it doesn't taste like it looks, and it is a perfect way to eat the stew & sauce-type dishes that make up the majority of the options on the menu. Rip a hand-sized piece off of the plate, grab some stew of meat with it, and deliver it to your mouth. I tried a hot chickpea sauce, very tasty and savory, and the beef tibs (photo), which are the same contents and serving presentation as a fajita platter (onions, peppers, jalepenos, and bits of beef), but seasoned with different spices - a very tasty mixture. I also had a few ribs thrown in there, little bits of meat attached to big bones. Needed a knife for those (sorry silverware policy!) Our group also tried various stews like doro wot (chicken stew with a boiled egg) and spicy beef stew, and even a beef tartar served with cheese. It is a very social way to eat, especially if you are trying it for the first time, as everyone is out of their element and in a good mood. Will totally return. Honestly, I don't know how they could improve on what they do that wouldn't ruin the homey touch.
(5)Bonnie L.
This review is for delivery. I tried calling to place an order but no one picked up. So I placed the order online at 7:08pm. The confirmation email said the food would be delivered by 7:45pm. I called after 8pm and the person who answered said the food had just been picked up by the delivery person. We live less than two miles from the restaurant so I called again at 8:30pm when the food had still not arrived. The person that answered said that it was on the way and that she would check on it and call me back. She did not call me back. I called again at 8:45pm, one hour after the food should have arrived. I was told that he was five minutes away. When I complained that it was over an hour late and I had not received a phone call, all I was offered was an unspecified discount if the food did not arrive after another five minutes. At that point, I no longer trusted that they were delivering the food, and even if it did arrive it would likely be cold by that point and I had several mouths to feed so I cancelled the order. There are so many wonderful, reliable Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood so I will no longer be patronizing Abol.
(1)Brandon P.
The tilapia and veggie platter were very good. I was more impressed this time than the 1st time... new management perhaps?
(4)Kristin C.
I have been fascinated by Ethiopian food for a long time with its vibrant colors, flavors, and unique flatbread. It's been a long time though, and Abol's fit the bill tonight. I tried the number one combo (vegetarian). I'm not a vegetarian but I love veggies and wanted to try a lot of the different veggie dishes. When it came out, it had a beautiful presentation of reds, oranges, greens, etc. with 6 different dishes to try. I think my favorite was the cabbage dish. By the way, you are expected to scoop up the foods without silverware with the spongy flatbread. Afterwards, the sweet chef came out to make sure every was okay. Everything was okay except I ATE WAY TOO MUCH! And I didn't even eat everything.
(5)Miki H.
This is the first Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to. I was afraid of trying before because I thought I had to eat raw meat by hand. Eating by hand does not bother me, but eating raw meat does. But my friend told me that they have vegetarian options, so I decided to give it a try. I tried Vegetable Combination for 1, and I think their Combination deal is really worth it. For about $15, we can try 4-6 different dishes. Since I am so quick to get bored with any one dish, I had to try this one. I loved their lentil soup, split pea soup, collard green and string bean. Beets can be better. It was too plain. Eating by hands wasn't that bad, either, particularly when we were served with unlimited supply of injera. Injera is like a soft and thin pancake like thing. I've used it as utensils. They do not have the prettiest or the most appetizing color, but its sour taste really fit my taste. Service was good. Very friendly and polite. This restaurant got me interested in trying different Ethiopian restaurants.
(4)Hua X.
I've been here twice. Not only has the food been solid (if slightly on the bland side as others have mentioned), the service has always been attentive and meticulous. They were very helpful working with my girlfriend's allergies. You'll get great bang-for-buck here -- portion sizes are excellent for the price and the bread is very filling. Alas, I would actually give this place 4.5 stars for the value and service if it were possible. For now, I'm rounding down because the taste was just a bit short of stunning (though still good).
(4)Gregory H.
Do not order delivery from this place. Incredibly slow if it even ever arrives! Ours never did!
(1)Sabrina W.
The hubby and I ate at Abol last night. The food was fresh, delicious and served promptly. We love this place!
(5)Ben S.
The service here was very friendly, and they are clearly trying to be accessible for people who are new to the cuisine, including having written descriptions about the lack of utensils on the table. When it became clear that we are fans of Ethiopian food, our server engaged with us. We ordered a veggie combo for 2 (different than two veggie samplers which is always a mistake) and the shen bro asa w'et for three people. It was weird to us not to have the food presented on a plate of injera - instead, having the dishes in separate containers and having individual plates. Maybe it's about not wasting injera, I don't really know. Anyway, this was atypical but didn't ruin the meal or anything. The food was pretty fresh and had decent flavor. They also had some dishes, like the beets, that are not on the standard veggie sampler that you get at most restaurants. The biggest issue that we had was that it just wasn't enough food for us. This is something that I've come to struggle with when eating Ethiopian with vegetarians in particular --- a double veggie combo is almost never really a double, and so the quantity of food rarely works out, whereas typically ordering a veggie combo and an additional dish will have me and my dining partner stuffed. On this particular evening it was three of us and we had the veggie combo for 2 (and at twice the price) plus another dish, and less than an hour later I found myself eating tater tots at a Quarry House Tavern because I was still hungry.
(3)Shellie D.
I have been to several Ethiopian restaurants and I did not know that Ethiopian food could taste this good! Thanks to Yelp for helping me find this place. My dad is in town and he wanted to try Ethiopian food for the first time. First, I loved their injera. It was so fresh and fluffy. We started with the appetizer, which is necessary! It is the only item listed for their appetizers and I can see why. The Sambossa (a light pastry filled with spicy lentils) was fresh, loaded with flavor and was very crispy. I loved it. We ordered the vegetarian combination, beef tibs and the stewed lamb tibs and shared amongst each other, which is the best way to do it in my opinion. The vegetarian combination came with several items: Yemisir Kik We't (Split Lentil Sauce), Yeater Kik Alicha we't (Yellow Split Pea Sauce), Gomen We't (Collard Green) Tikle Gomen (Cabbage), Fosolia Be Carote (String beans and carrots), Qey Sir- (Beets and Potato) and Tomato Salad. Finger licking good. I enjoyed everything on the plate. The Goden Tibs (Short Beef Ribs cooked in spice) were amazingly good! This is my all-time favorite Ethiopian dish. What really impressed us was the Yebeg We't (Lamb Stew) which is lamb simmered in red pepper sauce, seasoned with ginger root, garlic, cardamom and Berbere. The lamb was so tender and seasoned to perfection. We enjoyed using the pepper sauce as gravy for the other dishes. This is hands down my new go-to spot for Ethiopian food. In addition, I almost forgot to mention that the staff also added to our experience. The two young women servers were so helpful, friendly and attentive. Great customer service!
(5)Adria M.
I visited this restaurant last summer using a living social coupon. My my little cousin was here from Upstate NY and hadn't tried many different cuisines, so I concocted an international cuisine summer 2012 bucket list. The service was a tad slow, but the food was well worth the wait! I believe we ordered a vegetarian platter, goden tibs (beef short ribs), and yebeg we't (lamb stew). Everything was wonderful, the collard greens were cooked perfectly and had a little crunch left to them. Lentils were delicious and had a good amount of texture (unlike a few previous experiences I had that left me thinking Ethiopian food had a texture similar to baby food). The meats had the perfect amount of charring around the edges and all was perfectly seasoned. We loved the injera which had just the right amount of tang and sponginess! I just wish I lived closer to Silver Spring...
(5)Maya H.
This is my absolute favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the entire metropolitan DC area, hands down. The prices are reasonable, the food is OUTSTANDING, and I love the ambience--it's cozy, warm and inviting. Everything I have tried here is delicious, and I love the fact that you can get certain dishes here that you can't get everywhere else (like the beet salad--YUM). Parking is a bit tricky, since it's on Colesville Road near Georgia Avenue, but who cares? JUST GO. Go and take your friends with you. Walk 20 miles in the snow barefoot to get there if you have to. Trust me, you'll thank me for it later.
(5)Bridget M.
Actually, 4.5 stars. I had never eaten Ethiopian food prior to yesterday, but I've been looking to expand my culinary horizons and I figured that Ethiopian was diving in head first. My boyfriend, sister, and one of my sister's friends accompanied me, and although the BF and myself were pretty keen on trying the food, my sister and her friend just went so they could "not be boring." I ordered the tej (honey wine), but I didn't like it too much and ended up passing it off to the BF, who found it interesting/palatable. I ordered the beef tibs and split lentils as my meal, and it was SO. FREAKING. GOOD. The tibs comes out on a sizzling platter (sort of similar to if you order fajitas) with tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and onions, and the split lentils are served in a tiny bowl. You scoop all the food up with injera, their spongy bread, and I hadn't expected its texture to be so...foamy. That being said, the flavor was definitely interesting and complemented the tastes of the food. My sister's friend ordered the fried fish and said it was bland but done nicely, but the salad that came with her entree was, in her words, "wonky." My sister (as you could probably tell by the above remark) isn't the most adventurous eater, so she didn't like the spicy beef tibs that she ordered. The BF and I agreed, though, that it was delicious. All in all--I look forward to going back! People who aren't into trying new foods, though, may not be pleased.
(4)Daniel M.
Had dinner here tonight and loved it. The chef came over and talk to us about the menu and helped us make a selection. It was almost empty at dinner time on a Tuesday night but don't let that steer you away. We're not connoisseurs but we've had Ethiopian food a couple times and this place far exceeded our expectations. The food was delicious, perfectly spiced, and the service was warm friendly and attentive. It's a very casual place, so come as you are. If you are brand-new to Ethiopian food, this would be a great place to try it as they have directions on the table for how to cope without utensils.
(5)Ryan B.
Simply satisfying. Yebeg We't (Lamb Stew): For $14, you get enough for a dinner and a leftover lunch, a bit of a kick to the stew, and a simply sensation on your tongue after this sauce simmers on it. Yes, I want to go back. No, Ethiopic of H Street is better and has bigger portions (but comes at a steeper price).
(4)Neil O.
I've had better. Went here for lunch and that's about all I can say. I will be back since it is by my work and may update my rating depending how I like other dishes. I got the lunch special which included dori wet and two beef dishes I can't remember the exact name. All were just okay.
(3)Stephen M.
Great find! They have the fresher injera, friendlier servers, and larger portions than any other Ethiopian place in the DC area. Sambussas look and taste more like spanakopitas--not a bad thing at all, but a little different. (Get both the spinach and the cinnamon lentil--both are the best in the area!) Veg platter is excellent and does not take too long to prepare if you are in a rush for Filmore or the movie theater. "For 2" version easily serves 2 hungry people. Tibbs have a BBQ flavor, again a bit different than other places but very good. On the other hand, being Maryland, this place will easily set you back $60+ for a dinner for 2. Will definitely return.
(4)Jacob W.
Yeah man, this place has the goods. My girlfriend and I had just come off of some bad luck with Ethiopian and we were in the greater DC area for a wedding. We were guided to this place, naturally, by Yelp. It's a very warm, intimate, inviting restaurant. You will get the immediate sensation that you are supporting a small business that deserves your support, and you will be right. The tables have instructions under the glass tops for how to eat Ethiopian food. I don't need this instructions anymore, but I once did, so I think providing them is a good idea. There is a selection of Ethiopian beers and wines that I didn't try because I was going to a wedding that night and I was trying to take it a little easy. My dining companion and I ordered a meat-centric combination platter that was pretty fabulous. It had lamb, chicken, beef and a raw beef dish for the adventurous, which we are. Each featured tender meats in satisfying sauces with a delicate but robust spice balance. I would go into greater detail if I knew what anything was called but I can't say I'm a giant expert in this area of cuisine. I do, however, know good meat when I eat it and this place has the goods. We also got a side of collards that were merely okay, but they were also only $2.50 so who's complaining? We should have gotten a million vegetables at that price. Service is excellent. Waitstaff was polite, efficient and informative-- I imagine that they're used to fielding a lot of questions about the food and they do so with much aplomb. When I go back to DC greater metro I'll probably try a different Ethiopian place just because there are so many options but I'm very glad I tried this one.
(4)Dana M.
YUM. Extremely friendly and helpful service, we were all extremely pleased with all our food! I had the Golden tibs (beef short ribs in an AMAZING spiced sauce) with a side of green beans & carrots. I don't know that I'll be able to try anything else next time we go because this was so good! Our table also had the vegetarian combo platter and the Tibs Fitfit, with a side of split peas. Both were raved about, though the Fitfit is a little too much injera when you're already using it to scoop up your food. Flavors were amazing though. Split peas were surprisingly delicious, and we wished we had a whole plate of them. The table taste-tested the regular vs. GF injera, and the only noticeable difference was a little lemon flavor in the GF version. We'll definitely be going back!!
(5)D T.
superb Ethiopian food I particularly loved the chicken stew super rich and flavorful will definitely come back!
(5)Maegen R.
It's more a 3 1/2 than a 4, but much closer to a 4 than a 3. The food is good. I've only been once, but I had a combination plate and so I tried about 5 different dishes. I wasn't overly impressed with the decor or the service, but I wasn't put off by it either. I'd definitely dine there again. The lentils were among the best I've had.
(4)Amanda M.
Well I got a livingsocial deal here so I thought I'd try a new cuisine. ($15 for $30 worth of food) Of course I only bought it because this place has 4 stars. Can't say I was a fan though. I got the first chicken dish on the menu. It was a chicken stew with a hard boiled egg and cottage cheese (which I guess was mixed in.) It came with 2 small chicken legs (bone included) and the egg was whole. It was spicy but I also didn't like the flavor. I was also not a fan of injera. The texture through me off, which was spongey, and it also had a weird taste. All in all I didn't like it. Wasn't for me. Oh, I got the string beans and carrots.... I could eat a whole bowel of that. SO good. My boyfriend however loved all of it. He got a beef dish with tomatoes and green peppers. I ate all his tomatoes. I think if I try ethiopian again I'll go with a veggie dish, but whose to say those string beans and carrots will ever be that good anywhere else? I also got their iced tea. It had a unique flavor too it. I liked it. My boyfriend got a lemonade. That's all we got and the bill was $34.86. (before the living social deal.)
(3)Rachel E.
Wonderful! Had the combination #2 for 1 and couldn't finish it due to the generous portions. The chef personally came out after and asked if I enjoyed my meal which I felt was a lovely personal touch. Highly recommended!
(5)Johnny A.
Tried their lunch buffet. The food quality is amazing, but wish they had more variety of meat dishes. Having said that, the lamb stew is excellent, so was the split pea and the tomato salad are first rate. Service is very friendly and prompt and I shall return for more.
(3)Sana J.
This place is DEFINITELY worth going to in Silver Spring. Whether you love Ethiopian food or have never had, this is a great place for all types of eaters - especially because there are so many veggie options to choose from, too. We got the combo #3 which came with: -Doro We't (Chicken Stew): which was so delicious (some of the best I've had) - Yesega we't (Spiced Beef Stew): also utterly fantastic and mouth-watering - We switched the Yebeg Kikil (Rich thick Lamb Soup) for Collard Greens: which were delicous - Tibs (Chunks of beef sautéed with onions): ours were a bit too well done but I requested it that way and personally love food that's just a little bit burnt. - Kitfo (Chopped Sirloin with herbed butter sauce): also so great! Plus we got SO much food that we had leftovers for another meal for two! And, if you're gluten intolerant they have gluten free injera!
(5)Enn T.
Great entrees, lots of veggie options (extra star!), enough quantities, super injeras, very polite and sweet host! Will definitely go back! I wish they had bigger tables though :(
(4)Phi N.
I came here with 2 of my friends, and we ordered the combo 1, 2, and ... I think it was the lamb tibs. Sorry, it's been a while-- I don't remember which item on the menu it was exactly. Everything was decent, but nothing was amazing. My favorite items were the collard greens and the lamb tibs (probably because it was the saltiest item, and I do love my high blood pressure...). The injera here was really moist. I feel like I eat too much of it though... is it because I'm american? lol. Oh well.
(3)steve t.
Having tried this restaurant 5 years ago and being underwhelmed, we decided to give it another chance since we had a craving for Ethiopian...and we're glad we did! The wait staff was friendly and helped us pick our entrees once we provided some guidance (meat vs. veggies). The food was delicious...my wife and I went back and forth about which was better... she had the special lamb tibs and I had the chicken Doro We't. I loved the beets and her side of lentils was almost as good. The injera was great with all the dishes. All this and no sticker shock when the bill arrived! Throughout the meal, Chef Mamo came out to check on us and tell us about what we were eating. She let us know that she took over about a year ago, which explains why the food was so much better now than our last visit. Now that we know it's under new ownership, we are sure to return again.
(5)Vincent L.
So I've never actually had Ethiopian Cuisine, but we wanted to try it out. The 3 of us ordered a Meat Combo #3 and Veggie Combo. Meat Combo - 5 different kinds of meat, cooked various different ways. All were pretty good, except the one where they ask you how you wanted it cooked (raw/medium/well). We went with medium since that was the recommendation by our waitress. Now it wasn't bad, but it was very different. I think just a little bit too different for my taste buds as I did not enjoy it like the rest of the food there. The Veggie Combo was awesome. No Complaints what so ever there. Overall, since this was my first experience with Ethiopian food, i would rate this place as awesome. It's not my fault that I didn't like that one meat dish.
(4)Deborah N.
Delicious homemade Ethiopian food in downtown Silver Spring. I am far from an expert but enjoyed most items on my veg combo plate. The only thing I didn't like was the collard greens. This is unfortunate as they are one of my favorite vegetables!
(5)Sue H.
We have been to several of the Ethiopian restaurants in the DC area, and the food at Abol is one of the best. We had one of the meat combination platters with Kitfo (deliciously prepared raw steak). Every dish was full of flavor and the injirah was great as well. Service was a little slow but overall a great experience.
(5)Anjali B.
Three words: Gluten Free Injera! I got Abol's living social deal, and when I looked at their website, I was thrilled to see that they feature gluten free injera. I have family with Celiac Disease, and it is very unusual to find an Ethiopian place that has wheat-free bread. The food was pretty good. The Yemitin Shero We't had a serious kick to it, so beware if you don't like spicy food. The only dish we didn't like was the Shenbra Asa We't. The description of "chickpea cookies" was more accurate than I assumed - rather than being soft fritters, they really were hard small cookies covered in sauce. The sauce was delicious but the cookies were far too hard. Each entree comes with a side, which was a nice touch. The sides are small, but nice to have for variety. the wheat-free injera cost an extra $4, but that is pretty standard for gluten-free additions, and it was just as good. I tried both versions, and while you could tell the difference between the two, they were similar enough that I probably wouldn't have noticed had I only been served the gluten-free variety. Overall, solid food, polite wait staff, clean restaurant, and a wonderful option for a wheat free diet!
(4)Monica T.
I recently was in the DC area for work, and you know what that means...Ethiopian food! See, we don't have much of it in Utah so I have to get it when I can, and my hotel was conveniently located next to several highly rated Ethiopian places. I chose this one because they had combination platters. So there I was, watching football and eating my combination #4 and having a great time. Everything was awesome (Yelp rarely lets me down), but I especially enjoyed the beef stew on the upper left of my platter. That stuff was like crack, and I could have eaten so much more. But it was all super tasty, and very complimentary with one another. I wish we had places like this in Utah.
(4)Vivian H.
My favorite cuisine is Ethiopian. If you want to win my heart over, fill it up with honey wine and lots of injera. I dragged my mom and aunt here for a late lunch. Both of them were Ethiopian cuisine virgins and I had the duty of breaking them in. Now that is a hard task. We ordered a vegetarian combo platter for two ($29.99), and it included stewed cabbage, corn, beets, lentils, garbanzo beans, string beans. It also came with a lot of injera. More than what you would get in NY. Everything was excellent. I highly recommend this place. My only gripe is that the platter was not served on injera but actually served in a ceramic combo dish. It just didnt feel as authentic, but the food made up for it. Low-key and family oriented. No frills, but damn good Ethiopian food. The waitstaff were nice and extremely beautiful.
(4)A B.
So we tried this place and while the veggie platter was good, there was a major problem. They claimed to bring us all teff (gluten-free) injera but didn't. As a result, celiac hubby was very sick, so sick he missed work the next day. So even if everything else was fine, though it was a bit more expensive than similar places on U street, messing up on gluten-free injera is awful. Gluten-free required, beware!
(1)Vickie S.
My vegetarian heart loves Ethiopian food so much. There's a couple of good options in Silver Spring, and I'll admit that we went to Abol because of the LivingSocial deal. I hadn't put much thought into the place, even though it's located in the heart of everything - right on Colesville/29, across from the AFI theatre. It's not a big restaurant, but we went out early in the evening and tables were full there was a line forming for seating when we left. That was great to see. Also, apparently there's parking behind the restaurant, which I wish we had known beforehand. You're welcome. My mom hadn't had Ethiopian food in a very long time, and wanted to try it out again, but she's admittedly not very adventurous with her food choices and kind of a spice wimp. She loved the food. We shared the carrots and green beans and a lentil wot, with roasted beets and another lentil side. I think we ate every single lentil that made it to our table - and it's not like portions, particularly with the injera, are small. The spicy, smoky red lentils were phenomenal. The green beans are a sweeter, gingery entree, and while still yummy, didn't make us stuff ourselves like the lentils. The roasted beets side was well prepared, and I have a partiality to beets so I was happy to hear they were an option. Wonderful for a cold day in Midatlantic winter. How often do you extol lentils in writing? Maybe not enough. I'll make a point to come here again.
(4)Heather J.
This will be a tough review to write. How do you review a restaurant that is perfectly nice, and serves what people say is good food, but it's a type of food you don't like? I'll try..... My experience at the restaurant was lovely, but I just don't care for Ethiopian food! I've tried Ethiopian food three times now, and I just can't get behind it! To me it tastes like less flavorful, pureed Indian food. But I digress. Some of the food we got was quite good (and to other people who do like Ethiopian food, it was probably all very good). The collard greens were yummy, as was the one chicken dish we got, and the green beans with carrots. The honey wine was wayyy too sweet for me, but the server did warn us that it would be very sweet (and I should have guessed by the name of it), but I wanted to try it anyway. I saw some other tables order a dish that was served on a sizzling platter, like fajitas. It looked good - I don't know what it was, but next time (if there is a next time) I'd get that. The Ethiopian bread just isn't my favorite, either - it's like a soggy tortilla. I wish I liked it all more, because I know DC is famous for Ethiopian food, but it's just not for me. The servers at Abol were very nice and the restaurant is conveniently located. If I liked Ethiopian food, I'd go back to Abol - fair?
(3)Karol L.
Great place, great food, fresh and very clean. Will definitely be back!
(4)C K.
I went here for lunch. As it turns out the chef's family was there for a mini family reunion. They invited us to join them at their table. We had already ordered, so we politely declined. Great experience. Great people who own and manage this restaurant. The food was fantastic as well.
(5)Debbie C.
There are a BILLION ethiopian restaurants in downtown Silver Spring and this one is my absolute FAVORITE. They have generous portions, but there's something about the way they cook their food that makes it more delicious than the rest. I always order the vegetarian sampler and steak tibs. That serves 4 people unless you have some serious eaters. WHAT THEY DO DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PLACES: they don't put the dishes on top of injara, they keep it in separate dishes. This is nice if you want to take food to go and not have all this leftover injara with the juices all over it.
(5)Alexander L.
We came here because of the 4 star review on yelp. We were greatly disappointed. The veggies were overcooked as to be tasteless and the spicing as subtle as a 10 pound sledge hammer. The fish was so far gone that even deep frying could not hide the stench of decay. Yuck!
(1)Alexandra B.
I first have to confess that I am completely new to Ethiopian cuisine, so I have no expertise to offer in terms of this restaurant's authenticity. My boyfriend had been wanting to try Ethiopian food for a long time, so we decided to finally go for it. Since Abol was rated so highly, we figured this was a good place to start. For drinks, we both ordered wine; my boyfriend got the honey wine and I got an Ethiopian red. We found the honey wine to be (surprise!) very sweet but actually pretty tasty. The red wine was a great pairing to the flavors and spices of the food. We ordered some of the lentil pastries to start and found them to be extremely flavorful--just the perfect balance of spice. For the main course, we split combination #1--the vegetarian combo. This comes with a large variety of dishes, and I found that the flavor was equally as diverse. The Yemisir Kik We't (Split Lentil Sauce), Yeater Kik Alicha we't (Yellow Split Pea Sauce), and Qey Sir- (Beets and Potato) to me were all next to perfect, with a great heat level in the lentils, a savory flavor to the split peas, and a wonderful sweetness to the beets. Most of the other dishes [Tikle Gomen (Cabbage), Fosolia Be Carote (String beans and carrots), and Tomato Salad] had a nice taste but didn't leave me craving more. The Gomen We't (Collard Greens) was a bit bland to me, and I wished for some more salt or heat or something to bring the flavors out more. Unfortunately, the thing that I had the most trouble with was the Injera, which I recognize could very well just be that I'm not used to it and need to develop a taste for it. To me, the texture wasn't a problem, as that made it perfect for sopping up food and sauces, but rather the sourish aftertaste. For some reason I found this aftertaste particularly off-putting, and since the Injera is the center of the whole meal, it made it difficult for me to love the meal without full force. I have to say that overall this was a very good restaurant and I would happily support them again. I would be happy to give the bread another chance when I am maybe more prepared for it. The service was very friendly and the place seemed to be well-loved. I was happy to support what is clearly a well-cared-for business in the local community, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to give Ethiopian food a try.
(3)Amanda S.
So this place is funny because it's not fancy inside and it's not served in the traditional Ethiopian style, but the food is consistently delicious and the service is friendly. We typically get the vegetarian sampler and either tibs or doro wat. Don't let it fool you if it's not packed. This is a great place to eat.
(4)Dan M.
One of my favorite restaurants in Silver Spring. My wife and I usually share the veggie platter for two - great portions of nice spiced and prepared veggies (we have enough for another meal with the leftovers). The wait staff are always very friendly and helpful, and the restaurant itself is clean and bright inside. We did get the sirloin tips one time and while flavorful they were really chewy, but other than that all the dishes have been spot on. If you like sweet wine try the Ethiopian honey wine.
(4)Jennifer N.
I'll start by way of two confessions Confession #1- Ethiopic won my undying affection last year, and ever since, I've been reluctant to even try other Ethiopian restaurants. But we had tickets to a show at SilverDocs and wanted to eat at a spot fairly close to the AFI - we had heard good things about Abol and decided to check it out. I was very, very pleasantly surprised - what we ended up with was a meal as good as some of the best Ethiopian restaurants in DC (Etete, Little Ethiopia); true, it wasn't quite as good as Ethiopic, but it was close (and far closer than some of the more popular Ethiopian restaurants, like Dukem). Confession #2- Mandalay is my go-to restaurant in Silver Spring. I've had more room-temperature noodle dishes than I'd care to admit. It's time for me to add something else to my rotation. The dining room itself is a curious space: very sterile, with two mirror-covered closets (?) in the middle of the room. Abol has done little to create ambiance - there's no music, no real decor, just some peach paint on the wall and a few wall-hangings. The menu contains the standard offerings - we had two of the combo platters (which seem like the best deal on the menu - they very comfortably serve two, and they offer a nice sampling of dishes). My standard dish at every Ethiopian restaurant is the veggie sampler, and I was really impressed by Abol's -- each veggie had its own distinctive taste (sometimes I find the veg all taste the same, or they are all over-cooked and sour). The beets were particularly amazing, as were the sharp, cool collard greens. We also had combo #3 which is a meat combo (some beef dishes, and a chicken stew). I wasn't quite as impressed with this one - the stews tasted far more sour. One other note on Abol - it's the only Ethiopian restaurant I've ever tried that doesn't serve the food on a large, round piece of injera. instead, the food comes on a large platter, and they encourage patrons to scoop food onto their plates (the food is actually served with spoons) -- of course, ample injera is provided. At first, I was disappointed but this, but in the end, I actually preferred it (even though it makes for a very crowded table - two big platters, four small plates, etc.) because usually by the time I get to that bottom layer of injera, it's so soggy that it's not appetizing anymore. It's good to know I don't have to venture all the way to H Street to get my Ethiopian kicks. Tips: Dinner for 4 came to $53 with ample leftovers. Parking in the back of the restaurant on weekday and weekend evenings.
(4)Helene H.
Warm and wonderful service at this little gem of a restaurant. It is cheerful and comfortable and serves excellent food. The injera is especially delicious with a satisfying tang. We shared the vegetarian sampler and the lamb stew, both of which were very good (the lamb stew definitely has a zing to it!). My tea had a faint spice to it which was delightful. Unlike other local Ethiopian places around (except maybe Lesaac Cafe), it serves food in bowls with a basket of injera, instead of on a big tray with dishes arranged on it, which is different (and just as tasty!). I would highly recommend it!
(4)Eve A.
I'd forgotten how much fun it is to eat with my fingers. I had the vegetarian sampler and enjoyed all of it, and wished there was an Ethiopian restaurant in my town.
(4)Amy S.
This was one of our favorite Ethiopian places in Silver Spring. Their vegetarian combo is fantastic. They add veggie dishes that I haven't seen in many other places - like beets. Their spicy lentils are exceptional. The owners have also been very friendly in the past. However, their fish is disappointing. Very. And they are disorganized. When trying to call in our order we kept getting voice mail right away. Rather than going somewhere else, my husband stopped in the restaurant to try and place our order and had to tell them their phone was off! They didn't know. Then, he placed our order using the carryout menu we had received elsewhere (the same as their online menu). When he got home with our food, we realized that the tilapia dish we ordered was wrong. We ordered the #3, Juicy Tilapia but received #1, the fried tilapia. We went back and apparently the menu they use in house is not the same as the online/carryout menu and those two items are in reverse places! It was very frustrating and they were not at all apologetic. Then to find how disappointing the juicy tilapia was... (and a small portion for a $13 entree). If we go back (because I'm not sure, there is another fantastic Ethiopian place around the corner from them), we will DEFINITELY stick to the vegetarian combo.
(3)Jared S.
I love this restaurant! The flavors are amazing and plentiful with every dish we order. Service is good too. Excellent location right on Colesville Rd in Silver Spring across from the Silver Theatre. They now have a lunch buffet with a nice selection of sauces, chicken and an assortment of vegetarian options. A solid helping of food only cost $5! Easily one of the best Ethiopian places in Silver Spring.
(5)Luma L.
Nice, little restaurant up at Silver Spring! We ordered the vegetarian combo and the food was delicious.. There was a nice variety in the dishes and it was just the right amount for two people... The sambusas were yummy as well... We would definitely return for the food and the very friendly service... :)
(5)Jennifer G.
I just rolled into Abol for takeout. Their vegetarian combination plate for one was absolutely delicious, and way more food than I could eat. Beets, cabbage, two kinds of lentils, greens and green beans The injera was perfect, tangy and spongy. I came in at 5 pm, before their dinner rush, and they had my food ready in about 10 minutes, which I thought was reasonable. The woman who served me was very pleasant. I would definitely come back and recommend it to anyone.
(5)Tim H.
Silver Spring has lots of great Ethiopian places but this is definitely my favorite. As with most Ethiopian restaurants, the combination platters are the way to go. I've had several now at Abol and everything has been delicious. The yamasir kik wat (spicy lentils) are truly amazing, which reminds me, it's vegetarian friendly. The restaurant itself is unassuming but the staff is very nice and the service quick. There are cheaper places but the value here is still great.
(5)Belle B.
Since moving to the DMV, I've developed a fondness for Ethiopian food. From reviews of several restaurants, it sounds like that's a common trend. Abol is wonderful in that their selection provides a great opportunity to try a number of dishes. And, if you're a little unsure of getting your hands truly "dirty" by eating out of a "family style" large platter, they provide individual dishes for you to scoop your desired portion into. Personally, I prefer to tearing off a piece of injera and pinching up some delicious food from the communal plate, but I've grown up with family-style dinners. Taste-wise, I love Abol's dry tibs and kitfo (for meat lovers). Of their vegetable choices, I enjoy the mixed veggie combination dish but I'm not a fan of how they serve it, 2 dishes in one bowl on an attached 3-bowl set. (There are 6 veggie dishes in the combo dish). I did like the last time I was there how attentive the server was with refilling my water. I've noticed at the Ethiopian restaurants I've been to they don't refill glasses as often, which I would love if they did more. Overall, Abol is a good place to experience Ethiopian cuisine and the kitfo and tibbs are amazing!
(4)Stephanie G.
I am simply in love with this place! I live in Maryland and really didn't want to have to drive to DC everytime I had a hankering for good Ethiopian food. After trying a few other place in the area, going as far as Burtonsville, MD - this place is hands down my favorite. The place is small yet charming. It's in an unassuming spot on Colesville Road in downtown silver spring. In a place so cluttered with chain style places to eat, finding a small family run place with great food is a treaure. Yes, they don't serve the food on the big platter of injera. I don't care for real..it's too tasty for me to care. The Yemisir Wet is the best I've ever eaten. The portion sizes are great for the price and you have leftovers to eat the next day.Or you can do an order of Tibs with the veggie combo as well. Tummy joy, I say. The service is really nice. Attentive, but not fussy. You can always tell something about a restaurant when the food in the place is native to clientele. Abol is always full of Ethiopian locals looking for a good meal. If you are in the area and love Ethiopian food - Abol is not to be missed.
(5)Pia M.
This is the only Ethiopian food I've ever had but I cannot imagine it getting any better than this. Their lunch and dinner combination meals are amazingggg. My favorite is the Yemisir Kik We't (Split Lentil Sauce) and Yeater Kik Alicha We't (Yellow Split Pea Sauce). The spongey Ethiopian bread each dish comes with is also soft and yummy (although a somewhat acquired taste/texture) and helps quell the spice. You get a ton of food for the price you pay.
(5)Alexander F.
Food was delicious but my girlfriend and I both vomited after we got home!! (We had the veg platter and coffee). Beware!!
(1)Kayla S.
I tried Ethiopian food for the first time at Abol's this summer and I've been eating there at least twice a month ever since. The food is good, the customer service is great and after 6:30pm or so there is free (and plentiful) parking in the lot behind the restaurant.
(4)Sara M.
I've been working my way through the region's Ethiopian restaurants, trying the kitfo and vegetarian platters everywhere I go. I've passed Abol dozens of times on my way to other Silver Spring Ethiopian establishments... and finally decided to stop in and give them a try! They're right across from the AFI Silver, so you can take in dinner and a show! I was surprised when our food arrived in fancypants serving dishes instead of family-style on top of a piece of injera. I love how the injera soaks up all of the sauces and juices from the dishes - sometimes the injera that's been underneath your favorite dish is the most delicious part of the meal! This was more elegant, but I definitely prefer the more traditional serving style. All of the vegetarian dishes were delicious, and they've got some different flavors and textures from the other restaurants in the neighborhood. It's always nice to get some variation. The kitfo had an amazingly smooth texture and an herbal taste that we couldn't quite place (like basil, but not quite). Mmmm. I think I still like Langano the best, but I'm glad to know that Abol is also a delicious option in downtown Silver Spring!
(4)Rachel P.
Great food, all around. Especially important for us, they do a great job packaging up take-out to keep all your food at its best for the trip home. (We've found take-out packaging to be an option with other good local Ethiopian restaurants.)
(5)Jennifer K.
Though the waitresses definitely move at their own pace (i.e., Slow as dirt), they are so lovely & sweet (especially when they hang behind the bar and chat in low tones and gaze at you while you wonder when they are going to realize that you finished eating 10 minutes ago and would Like Your Freaking Check) that it's hard to get impatient with them. I actually find myself wondering "what's the hurry? I should really learn to slow down & enjoy myself." Besides, I don't go to Abol for the speedy service. I go there for the spiciest, savoriest split lentils, and the tenderest, butteriest cabbage & collard green dishes, and the most gorgeously sweet and earthy beets, and the heavenly yellow lentils & the tangiest, tenderest injera ever. I order the Combo 1 (veg platter for 1) & it runs me about $15 -- but it's really enough for two meals. Especially if you order the sambussas -- which are crispy morsels of spicy goodness. I just can't really get over the beauty of the flavors at Abol. I love Ethiopian cuisine & there are still quite a number of places I haven't tried in DC - but, so far, this little Silver Spring is one of my favorites. Side notes: If I ever manage to get over my obsession with the veg combo, I'll definitely order the tibs. They come on a sizzling platter and, when they are brought out, the most delectable aroma fills the space. Mouth-watering. If you order tea, they will bring you a nice selection to choose from & a pot of hot water spiced with cinnamon and cardamon. Lovely. They do serve beer & wine & offer espresso drinks, too. The baklava is served with warm, gooey honey poured on -- not my favorite -- but for those who like it like that, it's a Gigantic piece of baklava.
(4)Tochi K.
If you are new to Ethiopian food, Abol is where you want to start off. They have pretty good Ethiopian food, nice staff, and very decent pricing. Abol is also where you want to dine with a vegetarian friend (or if you happen to be one yourself). We went on a LivingSocial deal and were out to sample a little bit of everything. For starters, their lentil Samboosas (samosas) are the best I've had--tangy, well spiced, not oily, and full of deliciousness. For entrees, we went for 2 combination platters: the Vegetable Combination #1 for one and the Meat Combination #2 for one. This was more than enough (lots of left overs) for my husband and I and is served with Injera (Ethiopian flat bread). This really is the best way to sample their food. The vegetable combo has red/split peas, yellow lentils, collard greens, cabbage (yum), string beans (yum!), and beets (super yum!). I enjoyed the vegetable dish the most. They were all fresh, well prepared, and healthy. The meat dish has lamb, chicken, spiced beef, and regular beef stews, as well as collard greens and a tomato/onion relish. If you are new to Ethiopian food, my best description of the meat dishes (which were all pretty good) is that they are deeply spiced; and this is NOT saying that they were over-spiced or too hot, just that they are richly spiced. The staff were very kind but a bit slow and not as attentive as they could have been--they don't check on you but are very attentive and accommodating when you get their attention. One of the servers didn't seem to speak English well but ultimately communicating wasn't an issue. This was my 3rd Ethiopian dining experience in the DC area and they top my list. I will definitely go back.
(4)A S.
My fav ethiopian restaurant. The vegetarian platter is to die for. Great service, the lady (who I believe is the owner) was very friendly and attentive.
(5)Dee S.
I've only eaten here twice, but enjoyed it both times. The food was very good; I really liked the beet entree, which adds variety to the menu. The service seemed good both times.
(5)Amanda K.
Move over U St....you've got a playa in the 'burbs. Wasn't expecting much, despite the great reviews the other Yelpers have given (I'm a bit of an Ethiopian food snob...for as much as a Jewish girl from MoCo can be). Place was pretty empty when my friend and I arrived, so service was prompt. Friend ordered the kifto raw (told ya, go big or go home) and once the surprise faded from the server's face, she realized this wasn't our first rodeo (damn Dr. Phil...) Injera was sour, spongey and delicious...tibs were perfect, kifto was amazing, lamb soup was full of gamey goodness. Why 4 stars and not 5? The gonen was respectable, but bring a gonen freak, ultimately disappointing. Also, they serve the meal in dishes instead of on top of a big, injera draped platter...that soggy sponge bread at the end is the best part!
(4)Frank G.
Well, I was really looking forward to trying what most reports said was good, authentic Ethiopian in Silver Spring. Went for an early dinner after work, and when I arrived there were only about eight other customers. I waited 10 minutes for my menu and a waitress to take my drink order (while the next table over, with two Ethiopian men, was doted on by three different servers). Waitress takes my order and returns 5 minutes later with my beer and a water. The beer is flat and tastes off. The waitress is nowhere to be found. I catch one of the other servers and send back the beer, asking for a YuengLing. My original server comes back about 5 minutes later to say they don't have it. I get her to get me an Ethiopian beer. And wait...and wait... and wait. She just never came back! After another 15 minutes (I timed it this time), I left. Terrible service. If you can't even get it together to get me a drink in over a half hour, I'm not gonna wait around.
(1)Carrie P.
My husband and I have tried about 6 or 7 different Ehtiopian places in the DC/Silver Spring area. Abol tops our list in every way! Once we found Abol, we felt like our search was over. We have been there about 3 or 4 times now and it has never disappointed us. It is the most delicious food for a very reasonable price. I do agree with previous reviewers who said it would be nice if the platter was served on injera as opposed to the ceramic dish, but frankly, the food to me is so delicious it makes up for it. It's a lovely little spot with a DELICIOUS vegetarian combo platter!
(5)Richard H.
The best and most consistent Ethiopian restaurant in Silver Spring, and there are a lot to choose from. The veggie combo is always a winner, but if you want to eat meat, try the doro wat, yebeg tibs or kitfo.
(4)Lee T.
Ethiopian food is definitely an experience, mainly because it's not as widely available as say Italian food. First thing to note is that you do eat with your hands (so wash them), and the second thing is that the menu takes a lot of reading. This is why I like this place so much, they have combo meals, several dishes paired together in smaller portions, so you can get a macro introduction to meat and vegetarian dishes. The portions are pretty big, I would say any of the combos for 2, and will more than adequacy feed a family of four. For a party of 6, I ordered combo 1 and combo 2 (2 people portions); more than enough delicious food for everyone.
(4)Sabrina R.
My kids had previously gone to Abol and raved about it. They even asked me to write a review on their behalf, before I even tried the place, because they loved it so much. My kids are real foodies .They and I appreciate good authentic ethnic food. So, when the kids asked to go to Abol for dinner last night, I knew that they had found a gem. We shared a combination platter for 2. The food was plentiful and delicious. The staff was friendly and attentive. I and the kids especially like the spicy dishes. We will be going to Abol again and again.
(5)Katherine L.
Perhaps the day we went they weren't at their best, but I had hoped for a better experience. Don't get me wrong, it was still tasty, but I can't honestly give it a 4-star review. 3.5 or maybe even 3.75 stars, but not 4. We ordered 1 veggie platter for 2 people. The food came out very quickly, which is great for hungry people. Most of the times, I assume that Ethiopian food is prepared in advance and left to stew and simmer for the spices to absorb better into the dishes. If it's made in advance and stored in some fashion, that's ok, just make sure to heat it up past lukewarm! The injera was a bit drier than I had hoped for... it would've been ok to use it to create fitfit/salad, or as the base layer.... but I was not that excited about it as the eating vehicle. Normally, I can't eat enough injera, but this time, I was only excited to use it to eat the food. Now the food they give in the combination looks beautiful in its presentation. 7 different dishes of varying colors and flavors. The kiki wat (split peas) was alright, but not as flavorful as hoped. The greens and green beans were my two favorite dishes, delightful! The cabbage dish was prepared differently than other Ethiopian restaurants, so the flavor was a bit stronger, in a good way. There was also a beet dish, which was wonderful if you like beets, but only so so if you are seeking spice and bold flavor. The Ethiopian tomato salad was great. The last and least flavorful dish was some sort of kik alicha. I usually adore this dish, but this one left me wanting something from the U Street corridor. One final food note: salt. While I'm not an avid salter of food, I did feel this food needed more salt. Overall, the food is good if you're hungry, but I wouldn't choose this over other places in DC. It doesn't help that the price is steeper than any other Ethiopian restaurant at which I've dined ($15 for the sampler). I think another chance might fare better, but from this first visit, I'm not keen on returning too soon.
(3)M J.
I'm a believer! I tried Ethiopian cuisine twice in West Philly, and both times were a disappointment. From that experience, I gave up hope that Ethiopian food and I are not meant to be. After encouragement from a fellow colleague, I decided to give it one more chance. We went to Abol for lunch and ordered combo# 2 and 3. Everything was good! The food was flavorful and some dishes were spicy, but not overwhelmingly spicy. The waitress offered us complimentary coffee because it was their New Years on the day that we came in. I'm motivated now to find good Ethiopian restaurants in Philly.
(4)Mark O.
Ordered the veggie combo. The yemiser watt (red lentils) was one of the best renditions of this dish I have had in the DC area. The rest of the combo was forgettable. I would give. Three stars for the lentils alone. Unfortunately, my lentil-induced bliss was destroyed by the sight of a roach climbing the wall next to me.
(3)Judy C.
A group of co-workers had lunch at Abol's today and it was great. We had combination platter #4 that included lentils, doro wat, spiced beef and lamb and special tibs - the flavors and spices were incredible! So delicious. They also recommended a sweet red Ethiopian wine that was great. The food came out within 1015 minutes and the service was wonderful. I will be going back with lots of friends. Go, Go, Go!
(5)Sharon L.
I have found my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant! The best thing is that the food tastes awesome, food was served promptly, service great, there was plenty of parking behind the restaurant and I don't have to wait two hours to get a table!! I have to say that my fav is still Dukem out in DC, but I really hate having to drive out to DC and then find parking a gazillion blocks away and then trek my way down to the restaurant and finally get to Dukem and have to wait 2 hours for a table on a Saturday night. The hubby and I tried out Abol after I purchased a coupon ($10 for $20 worth of food) on Eversave.com . Let's just say that I am so glad that I did. If not, I would never have gone all the way to Silver Spring to check this place out. We went on a Saturday evening and there was plenty of tables. The restaurant was very clean and had modern decor. The service was prompt and the food comes out in very pretty white plates, rather than your traditional Ethiopian round platter with the food on top of the injera. We ordered the lamb tibs served on a sizzling platter (similar to the meat in steak fajitas) and it was a HUGE portion and so flavorful. If you are adventurous, I'd highly reccomend the kitfo (beef tartare) ... and order it RAW, baby! It was melt in your mouth goodness, and the spices and tender raw beef was prepared in perfection, and the homemade cheese just tops it off!! If you just can't do it raw, they do cook it to your preference. The vegetable sides are also very delicious. Remember to get the beets. I've never seen an Ethiopian restaurant serve up beets, but heard this was a specialty of Abol only and it was soooooo good. Their stewed cabbage, lentils with red sauce, and tomato salad are also very flavorful. Overall, we had such a great experience and I will definitely be back often when I need my fix of great Ethiopian food!
(5)Dana S.
I was excited to try this place and came away disappointed. They clearly catered to people new to Ethiopian food, and I was with a fairly experienced group. They served the food on platters rather than on a round injera, which I disliked, and we even asked to have our food served on the injera and they didn't understand. The food was good, but no better then I've had at other Ethiopian places in the area. The honey wine (tej) was very good. The server was not great, she was easily confused, but the manager sorted her out. It wasn't a bad experience, but I'm also not excited to return here.
(2)Robert M.
Food was very good. They have gluten free injera which was larger than the pieces at other tables. I assume it was made to order. My w I've and I split an entree and got an additional side. With the large portions of injera it was plenty. Food was spicy but could have been hotter. All in all, we will return. And with friends!
(4)James W.
I've been to Abol twice and had combo # 3 both times. The food is great, as many reviews have noted, and the staff is very friendly. The combos are meant for two people, but it's enough food for three unless you're a big eater. Definitely worth checking out.
(4)Pano P.
Awesome. Really, really, really good and (at least with my inexperienced eyes) extremely authentic Ethiopian cuisine
(5)Diana C.
This is the one Ethiopian restaurant in downtown Silver Spring that I had been meaning to try for forever, but never got around to it. Recently, I finally had the opportunity. The whole setup is a bit different than the usual DTSS Ethiopian place. It's a bit more modern with its shiny, bright, and happy interior. The location is on the block across Colesville Road from the AFI Theatre, which is usually the northern boundary of OMG SO FAR AWAY for my lazy ass. At any rate, we ordered the vegetarian combo and an order of kitfo (raw!!!!!!!).... Impressions: - Each person had a plate at the table. There goes 75% of the available table space. I didn't even use it, and I don't think my two dinner companions did either. - The food came out on several individual serving plates with spoons (!) instead of on a communal platter lined with injera. I for one prefer the huge platter: it's easy to work around with other people, and the whole thing (mmm leftover random soaked injera) is edible. Also, there goes any extra table space. Our table was totally cramped and it was hard to share and move things around. + The vegetarian combo was amazing. Nice flavor and color. It had yams and beets: two veggies I truly love and I have not seen at other local DTSS Ethiopian restaurants. + The kitfo was super good. It seemed to be almost creamy in consistency. Not overly buttered or greasy, and it seemed to have a bit of either basil or mint (?) added to it, which lent a nice flavor. It came with two cheeses (I couldn't differentiate between them flavor-wise) and some greens as well. -/+ The service was ok. Friendly enough, but a bit slow at times. Glad to have tried it, and I will definitely be returning, if only for the veggie combo platter. YUM.
(4)Zachary H.
Abol serves up Ethiopian food with a somewhat modern twist. If you're looking for Ethiopian food that is a little different from the standard fare, this is the place to go. Though Abol's somewhat sterile interior is very different from most of the other vibrant Ethiopian restaurant interiors in the rest of Washington, Abol's food makes up for it. My wife and I tried Combination #4, which included a standard chicken stew (with boiled egg), ground beef, a unique grilled chicken stew, lentils and traditional Ethiopian collard greens. Each was very tasty, particularly the lentils, which were different from any other Ethiopian lentils than I've ever tried. A table next to ours ordered the grilled tibbs, which also looked (and smelled) excellent! The service was pretty good, though our soft drinks were served without ice. I found that a bit strange. Other than that, we were very impressed.
(4)Doug G.
Their vegetarian combo is fantastic - the beets are a particularly nice addition to the vegetarian selection. Everything tastes fresh and isn't too oily. The service is both warm and professional. It's my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the DC area. The perfect place to grab a meal before or after catching a flick at the AFI Silver Theatre, a concert at the Fillmore, or just visiting downtown Silver Spring.
(5)Rohan P.
This place is closed on Mondays. Gee, I wish I didn't have to work on Mondays. Maybe I should apply to Abol, because when I went, there was only one server. But she really handled the lunch crowd just fine. It wasn't all that crowded, and she seemed to have a personal relationship with half the room, but still pretty impressive. I've had Ethiopian food several times. I would say Abol serves authentic Ethiopian without the frills. The tables are full height and you sit in chairs. Also, the food isn't served on a platter with the meats, veggies and sauces laid out on the injera. The injera here is wrapped up like a hot towel and served in a little basket on the side. The atmosphere is very non-traditional other than the music. Well, I guess the music was traditional, ...it sounded Ethiopian, or at least African. I really haven't kept up too well with the Ethiopian music scene recently, you'll have to forgive me. But I have kept up with Ethiopian food, and the food here was authentic and pretty good. I got the Lunch special, which is a good deal for $7.99. The bummer is they only offer you a meat option OR veggie option for the lunch special, each exclusive of any of the other. I didn't really like that. My co-worker and I both needed our protein, so I'll have to try their vegetable dishes some other time. The dishes come out in these little white trays, sectioned into three compartments, each holding a different sauce and meat. My favorite was the sauce with the chicken leg, and the beef tibs was pretty spicy. You also get three injera rolled up into a basket, which when unfurled each approximate the size of an Elephant Ear. I'm sorry for the crude comparison, I attended a lot of State Fairs as a child. The injera was good, and there was just enough to accompany each dish. The strength of this meal has put Abol squarely into my lunch rotation. Once I try the vegetables, and some other dishes, I'm sure I'll have a better grasp on the restaurant as a group dinner destinache. But it's definitely a good spot for lunch in Downtown Silver Spring.
(3)Lisa B.
Terrific Ethiopian food. This is our go-to place when we're in the mood. While the restaurant is not very fancy or pretty, the food certainly makes up for the decor. Our standard order is the vegetable platter, a meat dish (lamb we't) and an extra serving of the yellow split peas. Even the kids scarf down the collard greens. This month (April 2011), though, they're offering a "Hudade Special Combo", where a variety of dishes is served on injera on a large platter. Nice to have Ethiopian served this way instead of Abol's usual of serving it in dishes.
(4)Yoseph A.
Pretty good place for Ethiopian food. I would go there once a week or so. Good Abol Tibs and Kitfo. Shiro is good too. When done please ask for macciato.
(4)S. G.
I decided to try somewhere different than my usual haunts. So glad I did! We got the veggie sampler plate. So good - flavorful, abundant foods, etc. Two thumbs up!
(4)Mr F.
Very good Ethiopian food. Price is comparable to most Ethiopian restaurants. Try the beef tips. The enjera they use is among the best I tasted in area. Host are a little slow to return to table but overall experience is enjoyable.
(4)andrew s.
Still the best I've had. Go.
(4)Leyali R.
Date night dinner at Abol tonight, and we were impressed. The size and decor of the place make you feel like you are in the cozy kitchen of an Ethiopian grandmother, and the home-style dishes were really delicious. Husband ordered a Meta beer and noted its similarity to ethiopian 'tej' with a sweet taste. I ordered the vegetarian platter and he ordered the fried fish with green salad. Our waitress was very polite, and the service was relaxed and casual, which we liked. My vegetarian platter was sheer delight. My favorite tastes lay with the amazing green beans with carrot, the sweet-yet-firm beets, and the yellow lentil sauce. However, the collard greens, cabbage, and spicier red lentils did not disappoint either. They possessed the perfect blend of spices, oil and veggie variety- I truly felt I was eating a fantastic home cooked meal. The injera was beautifully soft, moist, and tangy. Husband's fish dish smelled (and according to him, tasted) delicious. I tried a bit of the green salad it came with and was pleasantly surprised by the fresh lemon juice dressing- it seemed to be a perfect compliment to a fried fish dish. Hub confirmed my suspicions by actually tasting this combination and thoroughly enjoying it, and was also pleased the dish came with two large fillets. The owner of the restaurant came by to check on us, and we appreciated his attentiveness. Overall, we loved this place, and will definitely be back on any night we're in the mood for delicious home style ethiopian cooking! Hub in particular noted he liked it better than Dukem. As good as it gets indeed!
(5)Laura W.
Had a random craving for Ethiopian, and saw the good reviews on Yelp for Abol in Silver Spring. It's a tiny little spot, but was pretty full even at about 8pm on a Sunday. We got the Combination #4 so that we could try some of the meats & veggies. Plus, I love lentils so that's always a plus for me! The food was so good - just the right amount of heat & spices - but I think my favorite in our combo was the collard greens & the beef stew. Definitely check it out!
(4)Cliff E.
Okay- the injera was tangy, but the food was so-so. We got the veggie sampler and the red beans were good but the rest wasn't spicy. Maybe we got the non-African version. the price was reasonable and our out of town visitor enjoyed her meat sampler- atmosphere was so-so but the service (which I had been warned was bad) was fairly swift. So overall- okay, just. Better than Langano, or Addis Abba. full height tables so you aren't stooping over your plate like Addis. At 10:15 PM the place was filling up with E-Americans, who looked like they were having better stuff than us.
(3)PAUL G.
Wonderful Ethiopian food. Not a large restaurant so groups (4+) may have to wait 15-25 minutes for tables to clear as most of hte table seatings are for 2. The Saturday night I ate there, folks decided to wait it out - it was very crowded but the service was not slow and food was hot and very good. Had Combo #1 (veggie) and Shiro--some of the best in the DC Area.
(4)Angela M.
Ohhhhh, I've been procrastinating on this one.... I ate here Sunday night with my non-epicurious hubby. He didn't complain too much about eating foreign food and I appreciate that very much (if you ever read this). We even discovered something we really liked in the process. That up there. That's a 3.5. Here's the dilemma. I've only had Ethiopian food once and that was this time. I have no experience and I'm afraid that I just didn't really like what we ordered. He ordered the meat sampler and I ordered the veggie sampler. There were some items that I liked off of mine and off of his, but I'm afraid that it's not something that I really want to do again. It sorta reminds me of Indian food and I'm just ok about Indian food. I'm in love with Asian cuisine and Mexican and a lot in between, but this is out of the ordinary for my food conquests. I did like the chicken, lamb and steak with carrots off the meat platter, I liked the beets, tomato salsa, carrots and green beans off the veggie platter, but I wasn't crazy about any of it. I did like the fact that the rolled bread (Injera) was in a basket on the side. However, I thought the bread was kind of tart and spongy. I'm sure it's supposed to be like that, but hubbs and I were talking about how nice it would be to put some of that in our shoes when we run or using it as a floor covering. Spongy, stretchy, sort of rubbery and filled with bubbles. Don't you want to walk on it too, now? The service was polite and quick. The manager was very nice and made sure to point out what everything was and how to eat it. I think he really liked the fact that we came into try the food, 'cause he had this huge grin on his face. The saving grace of the meal (aka the reason why hubby didn't kill me) was the baklava. Wow - hands down the best either of us have ever had. It was nice and warm, good portion size and drizzled lightly with honey. Mmmmm! I know we will be back for dessert. They also had Tiramisu on their dessert menu, we thought about it briefly, but went with just one. There was one thing I was really curious about. The server walked passed us with someone's order of what looked like fajitas. It was meat and veggies sizzling on a hot plate and it smelled so GOOD. If we go back, I'll try that, we'll get the baklava again and I'll sneak some of that Injera out so I can put it in my shoes!
(3)Keri W.
I wasn't aware that Ethiopian cuisine was really big in DC until I arrived and started seeing these restaurants on every street corner! While staying right down the street from Abol, I read that this was one of the best places for Ethiopian so I had to see for myself. I wasn't sure what to expect as far as flavors and style of food this was going to be. I ordered the doro we't (chicken stew) since it was crowned the national dish of Ethiopia. I gotta say, the food here was absolutely amazing! Service was slow but the staff were extremely friendly. I loved everything about the food. I'd eat here all the time if I were a local. Will definitely be back on my 'to-do' list when visiting again!
(5)jamie l.
Ordered the meat sampler and the veggie sampler. Bottom line: Tons of places in the Atlas district and north Silver Spring with better offerings. Lamb tibs were overcooked and bland, lentils lacked texture. String beans and carrots had a great flavor, but awful texture. Kitfo was quite bland. The lamb stew was above average, the other stews below average. Injera was solid. Service was quite poor; but may be due to the fact that it was somewhat late and we chose to sit outside. Unless you're dying for Ethiopian in downtown Silver Spring, eat somewhere else.
(2)Brian S.
Abol is a relatively new addition to Silver Spring and it is a welcome addition. Abol is located across the street from the AFI Silver Theatre and is easy to miss by car or on foot (as isn't much pedestrian traffic on that side of the street), but it definitely worth stopping in. I shared a combo platter with my girlfriend and we were stuffed. The beef and veggie dishes were full of spice and were very tasty. The prices were pretty reasonable and service was speedy. It was a quiet weekday night so there was adequate seating and we were able to leisurely enjoy the meal. The food is served on funky dishes and the injera comes in a basket on the side. This is different than most Ethiopian restaurants I've been to, but it just means that injera isn't being wasted getting all soggy underneath the food (note: this could be seen as a bad thing if the mushy, soaked injera is your favorite part of the meal). The decor is simple and if you sit near the window you can watch cars rolling along Colesville (or sitting if its rush-hour) and take in the glow from the AFI sign across the street.
(5)ankur r.
Vegetarian combo plater Yuck! Exceptionally bland and the food was cold!! I felt like I was eating raw vegetables... Never going there again!
(2)Lauren H.
The vegetarian sambussa pastries are both decadent and healthy, like all good lentil appetizers should be. The veggie combo is huge and delicious--I can't get enough of the meaty red lentil stew and the green beans that practically melt on your injera. But the crowning glory of Abol is its coffee. Every sip transports you--gives you a taste of that bean from green birth to picking to roasting--makes you feel as if you are ingesting an entire vegetable garden's worth of flavors and textures with every measure of liquid that passes over your tongue. Most coffee leaves me with an upset stomach and a crazed mind; this coffee felt like a elixir from above. Go, eat food, and linger over a cup of that brew.
(4)F D.
We were headed to a movie across the street and stumbled upon Abol's. We split a veggie platter - the portion size was huge. We couldn't even finish it all. The food was good, but not as good as our favorite Ethiopian place.
(4)sunmaid r.
Had carryout here recently, and it seems the portions have gone down while prices have gone up. Veggie combo for two was same size as veggie combo for one I've had in the past! This is a bummer since the food here is generally pretty decent.
(2)Leon G.
Had the Combination#2 w Ingera. Superb sampler of stews, lentils, and collards. Nice portion sizes and intriguing, piquant tastes. It's been a long time since I ate Ethiopian food and this was a welcome return feast. Very friendly and rapid service. Highly recommended.
(4)Sarah R.
So Yummy! While the atmosphere could be better, the good food and friendly staff makes up for it. I always go for the veggie combo, and it has been consistently delicious.
(4)Aditi R.
Really good food-nice service! The portions are huge and the food tastes really good-i will definitely go back!
(4)