Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
8221 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD, 20910
Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Silver Spring for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8221 Georgia Ave
Silver Spring, MD, 20910 - Phone (301) 562-5911
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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Alexandra B.
3.5 stars I came here on a Friday night with my boyfriend and my aunt for a casual night out for catching up and enjoying good food. We did enjoy many things about our meal here, but there were also definitely some shortcomings of this restaurant that affected our experience. The decor was actually very charming, with very attractive decorative pieces on the walls and a cute bar. The tables were great for gathering as a group and sharing conversation over a nice meal, the chairs were comfortable, and there were little side tables where each person could put their stuff. The atmosphere is very laid back and pleasant. Unfortunately, so was the service. Our waitress was friendly enough, but there was definitely no rush to get us our food or even a move to fill our waters. Since most Ethiopian food is not cooked to order and it wasn't all that packed, there wasn't really much reason for the food to take so long to come out. Luckily we were there to have a long, casual night, but we were also itching for food when we got there and were disappointed with the length of the wait. Now for the food. We did start with some drinks while we waited for our food, and though we enjoyed the very sweet honey wine and the Ethiopian beer, all of the alcohol was wildly overpriced ($8 for each glass of honey wine, for example). The food was generally pretty good. The injera was excellent--soft and spongy for picking up all of the rest of the food. The dishes are big and beautiful in their presentation, and there is definitely plenty of food to go around. My boyfriend and I shared a vegetarian combo platter, which had its pluses and minuses. The salad was very nice and well-dressed. The lentils and the split peas both had nice flavor and were really enjoyable, but the potatoes and the collard greens seemed under-seasoned. My aunt ordered a meat dish, and while the meat was tasty, the vast majority of the dish was a pile of collard greens in a clear liquid. She didn't end up eating most of it because the greens were uninteresting at best. Overall, we had a really nice time and I would definitely go back to give it another try. That being said, I imagine that there are far better Ethiopian restaurants in Silvery Spring and/or in DC, and I would rather spend my time and money in those restaurants than in Abyssinia.
(3)Heather J.
I enjoyed everything about this place. The atmosphere is nice - they have wicker chairs and woven baskets on the tables, and a cute awning over the bar. The servers are all really friendly and attentive. The food was some of the best Ethiopian food we've had in the area. We had the messob platter for two, which came with a bunch of different meats and veggies. The greens were excellent, and the doro wat was great. I liked the beef dishes, as well. There's free parking in a lot behind the restaurant, which is a nice perk.
(4)Tianna S.
Walked by for the Taste of Fenton and tried the veggie platter and sambusa. I don't normally eat Ethiopian food, but I thought the sambusas were crispy and full of flavor. I liked the flavor of the veggies, but it was served cold. I think it was because they were serving people outside, but again, the flavors were very good. My sister loves Ethiopian food, so I will for sure bring her here.
(3)Daphyne W.
I've had a lot of Ethiopian, including in Ethiopia, this was Pretty good, great service, a little crowded but nice. Still searching for good shirt though, great selection of Ethiopian beers
(3)Ayan R.
The ambiance was neat, and the food was very good. Particularly the fried lamb dish that we had.
(4)Neha M.
I can't emphasize enough that if you're looking for a low-key, family style, home cooked feel then Abyssina is the place to go! My family of five went this time and enjoyed the lamb platter and veg combination. The food catered to vegans, vegetarians, and non-veg! Of the two dishes the veg platter was the biggest hit with rich flavorful lentils and three veg salads dishes. The only upset we had was that they ran out of the vegetarian appetizer on a Saturday evening. Be prepared to get your hands into your meal and devour it until the last piece of curry soaked Injera (Ethiopian bread) is off your platter!
(4)Carolyn P.
I've been to several Ethiopian places in D.C. and Silver Spring, and this is my favorite. The injera is real (not the dried out stuff with wheat flour mixed in), the raw kitfo is spicy, and the honey wine is flowing. They also have a full bar, and great decor and atmosphere. If you come at the right time there's also live music! My favorite dishes are the Abyssinia kitfo (always get it raw), and the Abyssinia tibs, which is made with lamb cooked in an amazing, spicy wine sauce. I also love their lentils.
(5)Eva S.
I had a great time eating dinner here with my friends. They have authentic seating and food. It was a wonderful experience. The service is very good and the servers are very kind. I recommend getting the dinner for 2 or 3 (your party size) because it comes with a variety and allows you to try lots of things. The spices were perfect and not too hot for my wimpy mouth.
(4)Sheri D.
We just had dinner as a family tonight here. My little sister got a groupon or living social deal and wanted to treat the whole family. :D The service was exceptional, even when my Dad was a little too blunt the staff still was courteous friendly, and the food was AWESOME! There are very few places in DC where I know I can get good Ethiopian food and THIS is one of them. There is a bar in the back and music in and outdoor setting. P.S. We had walked past this place dozens of times to go to other businesses and had there not been a deal online we would not have checked it out.
(5)Lex X.
So Nicolette and I were in the mood for some Drinks and Ethiopian food. I have spent some time at Abyssinia before but only in the late evening. Nice atmosphere, not to loud or rowdy the guests are usually a little more mature. During the summer they even had live music outside, pretty sweet! So going in I was pretty familiar with the vide but I have never eaten there. It was a Tuesday night around 8pm there are a few tables that have a more "Traditional" feel, I was shooting for one of those but they were all taken. So we just grabbed a regular table. We were still in happy hour there were about 15-20 others there eating and mingling, so it was a nice setting. I don't like eating in a place that's empty. The service was nice and prompt, we only had a small dish, beef Tibs with veggies and Wat not sure of the actual name. Everything was very fresh a very well-seasoned. I wish we had ordered more. Over all it was a very nice experience, it all felt very authentic from the music, to the décor, to the food. We will be back, I'm sure. Good job Abyssinia!
(4)Ellen K.
I met a friend here for dinner last week. We both like Ethiopian and she had been here a few times. I think I had actually been here once before back when I first tried Ethiopian food. Both being vegetarians, we got the veggie platter. The food was decent enough and some were well seasoned - just enough to have a nice hint of spices. However, most of the veggie sides left no real impression on me or my palate. I think perhaps overall they were under seasoned. It was not bad at all and I'm curious to give them another try. The setup at the restaurant was pretty good as far as Ethio places go around here. A couple table options inside, otherwise the traditional Ethiopian seating, plus seating outside. Service was fine. Id give me a 3.7 stars if I could.
(3)Jacinda T.
My friend and I came here for an early dinner and were sat at a cozy little table that sort of looked like a basket. We ordered the combo platter for 1 person and lamb tibs, which ended up being more than enough food for the two of us. The table had just enough room for the platter, but luckily they set up little side tables around our chairs for drinks, etc. It's a bit unconventional but comfortable. and seems authentic? The service was great and the atmosphere was pretty chill. The food itself was alright. To be honest, I thought it had a lot less flavor than other Ethiopian places I've been to. I was pretty disappointed, but my friend liked it. Different palates, I guess. I'm definitely glad they had honey wine though! I love me some honey wine.
(3)Anuj B.
Good Ethiopian Restaurant. We used to get a Groupon non veg platter minus the pork and beef. The food is good, maintains its authenticity. People serving are good as well. The ambiance goes perfectly well with food.
(4)Shanaaz S.
After my second time there, I can say their food left a better impression on me. The service was very good, no complaints there. We had the messob platter, I enjoyed everything apart from the lamb and greens. May just go there again, who knows.
(3)Phi N.
So for a long time now, all the ethiopian cab drivers have told me they love coming here. So what do I do? Come try it out, of course! I was not let down. We ordered the mixed platter and the abyssinia lamb tibs. The lamb was bomb! This is actually the only lamb tibs I've thoroughly enjoyed at any ethiopian restaurant. I was also very satisfied with the meats on the mixed platter. The only thing I was let down about was the vegetables. They lacked much taste. The basic tomato & lettuce salad actually had more flavor than the others. I've never been to ethiopia but I sure feel like I'm in another country coming into this restaurant. From the table set up & decoration to the music, it just feels right. And the swarms of ethiopians just chillin' here, make me know that I am at the right place for ethiopian food.
(4)Miss Maggie C.
Do not come here if you are in a hurry. It took 30 minutes just for them to give us our bill initially, for us to tell them it was wrong, and for them to do it over again. The food that same out was tasty, but nothing that really blew my mind away. We ate a lamb dish that was a little tough, and it was supposed to be cooked with jalapeno peppers, but it was not spicy at all. The fried fish didn't have as much meat in it that I would have liked, and the injera was a little dry. I also felt the prices were somewhat higher than other Ethiopian places in the area...
(3)Jess C.
Came here for lunch after purchasing the Groupon for the veggie/meat Messob platter for 2. Originally it is priced at $40, but the Groupon was only $22. This was the most disappointing Groupon I've bought and one of the lowest quality Ethiopian place I've been to in the DMV area. First, this restaurant has a gnat problem. There were so many gnats flying around our food and restaurant that we were distracted by trying to shoo them away the whole time during our meal. It was not an enjoyable experience having to do that throughout the meal. It was unpleasant. There is a large TV screen so it is a good place to watch games I suppose. So I would not recommend it for an intimate date, even though the restaurant is really dark even in the middle of the day (very minimal and low lighting..not romantic lighting, just dark). The messob platter (feeds two) original cost of $40 is not worth it. I thought it would be good to try their spread, but I realized their was barely any veggie dishes (one potato dish, cabbage, and greens dish) that I usually am used to when it is supposed to be a meat and veggie combo. And it felt like they just divided the portion of meats (a chicken dish and some other meats that were indistinguishable) in two around the dish so it looked like there was more variety, but there wasn't. The meats were really dry and lacked flavor and not warm enough. I'm not sure how they prepare it but it just didn't taste very fresh. I would have preferred ordering a la carte for a real veggie platter (elsewhere) and one meat dish. Lastly because we had used the Groupon, I think it was odd that our server emphasized what the original price was (which is the few words we exchanged during the entire dining experience). I'm guessing it is because she wanted to remind me to tip on original price, which I would have known and did tip accordingly. However, I must day, for being the only party in the restaurant, I thought she did minimal work and did not refill my water until I asked at end of meal nor were adequate napkins provided. Overall pretty disappointing meal and unpleasant dining experience. Maybe try another Ethiopian place down the street instead. There are tons to choose from in Silver Spring.
(2)Ben S.
There are so many great choices for Ethiopian in Silver Spring and Abyssinia just isn't in the top tier. We came here because there were waits at our old standards and we hadn't tried it yet; now we know why it is generally not as crowded. We ordered the Abyssinia kitfo raw, which had the cheese, onions and peppers mixed into it. I definitely prefer when the cheese is separate and you get to mix it in yourself, though they did give us the pepper sauce. It wasn't as buttery and delicious as kitfo can be, and the texture was less smooth than I'd like. We also had a vegetarian combo, which I found to be generally a bit bland. The music was loud but the space didn't really have any energy to it. The lights were down super low because but they were eventually turned up. Not a bad restaurant but just not nearly up to the standards of similar places just a couple doors down.
(2)Nate L.
My wife and I have been going to Abyssinia for years, and it is by far one of our favorite restaurants. Walk through the door into the dimly lit, cozy dining room, and take a seat at one of the small tables fit for one serving platter and little else. Or, if you've got a bigger party, sit at a conventional table. It is yours for the evening, or until you decide to leave. Do some people-watching for a moment-- the majority in the room are Ethiopian. Everyone is smiling and relaxing. Order from the fairly deep menu. Lots of meats, stews, and vegetarian-friendly dishes? Check. Served hot on an injera tablecloth? Check. Relaxed, casual, and friendly service? Check. Bandstand? Check. All the makings of a great neighborhood Ethiopian restaurant. Pick up a warm piece of injera and scoop up your food, the sauce dripping down your fingers. The flavors are wonderfully spiced and well-balanced. In no time, you'll have gobbled up as much as you could, but the portions are so big, that you'll inevitably have to bring home tomorrow's lunch. No worries-- they'll give you extra injera for that, too. I love this place and cannot say enough good things. If you need a place to unwind, this is it. If you need to have an uninterrupted conversation, this is the place to do it. Don't expect them to hurry you out. Getting them to take the check can be tough, because they'll let you have your table for as long as you want. Tell the server that you'll have your payment ready quickly when they bring out your bill. A note for those who have gluten allergies: their standard injera is NOT gluten-free. It is delicious, but it uses some flour to make it stronger and more absorbent. However, they WILL serve you 100% real teff injera if you call and make a reservation. They need 24 hours notice to do this. I found this out when a friend with Celiac disease came to visit. They will not charge extra for it, but apparently, they don't always keep it stocked. A major thing to be aware of if you have allergies.
(5)Jeanne D.
We had quite an enjoyable experience sitting outside in a well-shaded area on Memorial Day for lunch. The food was new to us so we chose something that the next table had, Golden Tips, which was a grilled lamb, a bit of salads and the Ethiopian bread. The St. George beer is Ehtiopian, they said, and an ok lager. It is a friendly place where we struck up a conversation with two different tables and exchanged book recommendations about Ethiopia and other African countries. We will go back.
(3)Katherine L.
This place is good, and it is not too expensive. What more could one ask for in a meal? I give it 4 stars because they are exceedingly generous with the vegetarian platter. Some places, even when you order 2 orders of the vegetarian special (there are 2 here: we opted for the 7 choice option with salad, shiro wat, gomen wat, tikil gomen, mesir wat, kik alicha and another wat of potatoes and carrots), they still give you just about the same amount as for 1 order. That is kind of annoying, but this place is NOT. The platter came out wicked full - so much food, they needed 3 entire pieces of injera stretched out on the bottom to cover it (most places have 1-2 pieces for a 2-person platter even with 2 orders). So, that definitely made me happy. Also, they brought a heap of injera, at least 3 pieces split into manageable sizes for pulling apart and using to pick up the food. The salad also came separately - although only lettuce, tomatoes, jalapenos and onions with vinaigrette, it was perfect and ridiculously generous. Most places give you 2 spoonfuls of salad, but this was an entire plate. The setting is great too - authentic. I appreciated the small tables next to our main table for our food. The small tables were good for our injera, salad, and drinks. The service is wonderful. Everyone is very attentive and very nice. No need to ask for anything, they are ready to make sure you're good to go for everything. Maybe because we were the first table to eat dinner inside, who knows. It was awesome though. The food - great. The cabbage (tikil gomen) was ok, it could've been more flavorful. The potatoes were a bit too firm for my taste. However, everything else was extraordinary. The kik alicha had a well-developed flavor. Nothing was too salty or bland, which can sometimes happen. The mesir wat was spice-filled without being overly burn-your-mouth spicy. I enjoyed the gomen wat a great deal as well, probably because I could tell the greens were fresh, but still cooked properly and with attention to depth of flavor. Shiro wat - tasty and satisfying, always a great way to eat injera. Will we go back? Yes. There are several other Ethiopian places in Silver Spring, but this is certainly in the top 3. For service, it's #1. For portions, #1. I have to say that if they had napoleons and a larger selection for the veggie combo (like beets?? other stuff??), they'd probably be #1! If I'm looking for the standard 7-item veggie combo, this is my choice in Silver Spring!!
(4)Galates S.
This was my 1st experience with Ethiopian food and from this, I am not a fan... Had to eat with my fingers and the good just tasted weird... Besides that it was a pretty weird experience at the place... The game was on so we are outside and the flag poles kept falling on me... We moved to a different table and I asked the hostess that barely spoke English if the sodas were a came with free refills and she just smiled and walked away... She came back with a coke in glass for me and a can of ginger ale for him, even though he asked for tea ... We went with it since we didn't wanna be rude... Anyways at the end with the check, she gave it to us an I kept trying to wave her down to take the money.... Anyways... I don't think the service there is bad at all, she was very very nice... I think it would have just been better if she understood English better, if there wasn't kids throwing a ball around, if I enjoyed the good more (more boyfriend did, so it was me) and I got a refill.... As I am writing this I am so thirsty!
(2)Sara O.
I have eaten at several Ethiopian restaurants in and around Silver Spring. This is my favorite so far and def better than the Silver Spring yelp favorite of Bete (which I have experienced twice). We ordered the meat dish for three and my friend got the vegetarian order. The meat was tender, flavorful and juicy. I loved it. The injera was moist and perfect enough to use for picking up the food. The veggie dish was tasty, but not enough protein or not substantial enough for a meat eater like myself. But, my friend loved it and has been itching to return ever since. I had the honey wine which was tasty and sweet. The ambiance was relaxing and cool and lots of patrons sat at the bar to watch a futbol match. This service was decent not the best or quickest service, but the food is so good and the meats and sauces make my mouth water for more.
(5)Thomas R.
This is a Vegetarian Review. Went here for the first time recently and loved it! The atmosphere is quite authentic (at least to my Western, colonial sensibilities -- which means that I have no idea if it is actually authentic). I loved the decorated tables and the seating! The honey wine was wonderful. The service was good, prompt and unobtrusive. And the food was the best Ethiopian I've had in the DC area thus far. My partner and I got a vegetarian platter and, like at every other Ethiopian place I've been to, it had a mess of diced lettuce and tomatoes in the center. Usually, I mostly ignore this in preference of the wonderful primary offerings which line the outside of the platter. However, at Abyssinia, even the center veggies were somehow delicious and I found myself devouring them and mixing them with the primary offerings, which seems like the way things are supposed to be done. Fantastic food! Fun, 'Ethiopian' atmosphere! Absolutely recommend.
(5)Peter M.
The vegetarian dishes are standard, though cooked and seasoned well. The meat dishes seemed the best of the bunch, particularly the spare ribs in greens with aromatic herbs. The injera is absolutely fine, and the lentil sambusas are crispy and flaky, not greasy and heavy. Happy hour, which is 4-8 on M-F, is buy one beer, get one for free. Service is great!
(4)SmugVegan J.
Nope. Went here on a Friday night. The place was somewhat full, but there was no line to be seated and there were at least 4 tables open. It took at least 1 hour for our food to arrive and when it did, most things were drastically under cooked. Since Ethiopian isn't usually cooked to order, they were unable to replace it and offered additional items from the were fully cooked. Damage was done though; I ended up with a stomach ache and bad evening. Nope, I won't be back here again. So many better other Ethiopian places in DC. Life is too short to pay someone to cook food poorly for me. PS, this place has the obligatory TV. Why must all Ethiopian places have a TV!?!??!?!
(1)MaJ C.
**This review is based Solely on the Vegetarian Items** The service started off nice, Though as any restaurant that gets busier as time goes on, the waitress' quickly found themselves in the weeds. A very bland platter, (we got the Veg sampler) filled with the usual suspects: Lentils 3 ways, potatoes, cabbage. All bland, with none of those earthy toned aromas or flavours that we are used to in Ethiopian food.. We had heard a lot of praise for this establishment, though as for strict veg, it was a boring night. Again, my disclaimer, as I have heard great things about the rest of the food: **This review is based Solely on the Vegetarian Items**
(2)Ellen R.
No way. Went there with a Living Social deal so I wasn't prepared to be thrilled. Service was confusing. Food was mediocre though plentiful. The worst part was that 20 minutes after ordering a bottle of white wine, it still had not come - when we asked about it, we were blown off. Next we witnessed the server coming in with a black bag, which held our wine that they had to go purchase from the grocery store because they were apparently out. The wine was brought to our table still hot...gross. We totally understood being out of something...but why not just TELL US and ask us to order something else? Very strange. I won't go back.
(2)Damon H.
Greetings People Of The DMV!!! Abyssinia, I love the Original Name of the country! It makes you feel like you are going to eat at an authentic Ethiopian Restaurant.... Well I have to say THANK YOU to the owners, the name and the food did not disappoint me at all!!! I had the vegetarian sampler ($14.00)... The lentils, and cabbage, and potatoes, etc. all had great flavor, lots of different seasonings, great portions and NO complaints!!! Great interior design, mixed with a family atmosphere. They are open late, and have live music on some nights. I definitely would recommend anyone to try, and bring your appetite!!!
(5)Damond S.
Had a great time! After a busy day and evening, some friends and I met up around 11:30pm and was very pleased this spot was opened on a Thursday. Good service...food was real good...it would have been 5 stars BUT I wasn't feeling $2.50 for a can of soda....
(4)Chris B.
Silver Spring has a number of Ethiopian options, but last week I traveled to Abyssinia for dinner. The restaurant was lively and the food was decent, although my overall experience was generally negative. On the food front: We shared a four-person vegetarian platter, and virtually everything we had--including two tasty lentil-based dishes--was really outstanding. The only culinary downside was the over-hyped honey wine, which had been highlighted in a few Yelp reviews. My wife ordered it and couldn't have more than a few sips--it tasted like a mix of beer and wine, and there was nothing sweet about it. All four of us tasted the honey wine to confirm, and the feeling was unanimous. Although the food was solid, my entire party had issues with the cleanliness of the restaurant. The bathrooms were exceedingly dirty, and the low point of the evening was when we saw our waitress stick her finger in her nose during service. Especially in Ethiopian cuisine, where everything is so heavily based on hands and the perception of cleanliness, the incident was enough to turn all of us off. It was unfortunate, too, because the food actually is quite good. I would not come back to Abyssinia--I'd rather explore other Ethiopian options--but I'd recommend giving it a try in the hopes that my experience was the exception.
(2)Joe H.
There are now several Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring and environs. I've tried most of them. I have to say they're just about all pretty good quality. The only real differences between them is the decor and a few items on the menu. I had a Groupon for the meat messob (combo platter). My GF and I enjoyed it a lot. It was actually quite a bit of food. Usually, we devour every single bit on the platter, but we couldn't bring ourselves to finish.
(4)Sara M.
Hey, look, another Ethiopian restaurant in Silver Spring! Abyssinia is one of the newer places downtown, and we had to give them a try. I've been a few times, and the food is quite good! They've got some nice combination platters (vegetarian, meat, and mixed) to let you try different dishes. It's a lot of food, and generally I've learned that if something says it's for 2 people, it'll easily serve 3. Their platter that was labeled for one person was an insane amount of food! I love the kitfo (raw ground beef with butter and spices) because they offer several different varieties. The music can be really loud, and sometimes they're showing weird things like Nickelodeon kids' shows on the TV. They have regular tables as well as more traditional baskets. I'm definitely a fan.
(4)Angela Y.
Bought a groupon and took my friends there. Since the groupon was for a 2-person platter, they insisted that we ordered another platter for 2 so we did. When the food was served, it was very tasty but way more than 4 of us could finish. We ended up taking it home and ate it for the next 2 days. I do have to give a 4-star for their decor.
(3)Angelica C.
First time eating Ethiopian food and probably my last. I had the vegetarian platter and it was "meh". The salad was very good and that's pretty much it. It may be just that Ethiopian food isn't for me. The honey wine was a little too sweet for my liking.
(2)Abegail A.
I've been craving Ethiopian food for some time now, saw the 4 star reviews on yelp, and was super excited to try this place out. Bad move! Don't go here when you are craving beef tibs....you will leave disappointed. =/ 2.5 stars. Came here on a Thursday night and the place was somewhat busy. I enjoyed the decor of the place. They had small tables of four set up around the restaurant (which isn't too large). Since the tables were small there seemed to be no other way to eat, then family style, which isn't my preference. I'd prefer to be asked whether I want my food on the same plate as everyone else, or to keep it separate (which the waitress never asked, she just brought everything out family style). Bleh. I ordered ordered the Yebere goden tibs for $13.50 (the menu online seems to be outdated, the prices have gone up). This item was supposed to be short beef ribs fried with onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos. No one told me when I ordered this item that I would be getting beef jerky with a sprinkle of onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos. The meat was definitely beyond well done and it had some flavor to it, but no spiciness at all. Give me some heat people! My friend had the Alicha wat-fresh and tender beef prepared in Ethiopian herbed butter and spiced with onions, garlic, ginger roots, and turmeric ($13.50). This dish was not good at all. No no no! The beef was somewhat fatty and it looked like throw up. No wonder why she only took a couple of bites and was over it. I wanted to like this place and to find an Ethiopian restaurant that was just as good as Dukeem. Sadly, I didn't find that here. Next time you are craving some good old beef tibs, skip this place and head to Dukeem instead. 4 stars?! Definitely not! BTW. They say you could make reservations online, but when I got there, the lady had no idea what I was talking about. The restaurant wasn't too busy either, so don't bother doing it.
(3)Elaine F.
Don't know what's up with all the negative reviews. This is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Silver Spring. The food is delicious and ample, and they have no problems sitting large groups (I had a party of 12). Depending on the night of the week, sometimes you don't even need reservations. Only once the waitress seemed confused when we asked her to replace the Tibs because we wanted it raw and she had brought it cooked (but we are Americans; Americans don't like raw beef), but she didn't charge us for the mix-up.
(4)Bela M.
I went there on Saturday night with my family (Indian) and we all devoured the food! When you walk in, you know that you are at an authentic Ethiopian restaurant by looking at the decor and people. We ordered a vegetarian platter and the first lamb dish on the menu because it was spicy. The food came out fairly quickly and they made accommodations for us to make sure the veggie food was not with the meat. The lamb was tender and perfectly marinated! There wasn't a single piece left after we were done with it!! On top of that, we even ate the ingeria (sp??) soaked in the juices because it was THAT good!! The cabbage that came with our meal was sweet and delicious and it was eaten up in a hurry. I didn't try too much of the other veggie dishes, but the red lentils were really flavorful and the potatoes were soft and delicious. Definitely a great place to go with a group of people if you are looking to hang out for a few hours over good food and company!
(4)M J.
We were so happy to have discovered Abyssinia through Groupon. We have been on a quest to find great Ethiopian closer to home and outside the U Street/Adams Morgan corridor. The others we've tried have been decent, but we ended up feeling like they were just a substitute at the end of the meal. Abyssinia was GREAT! The food is definitely comparable to our favorites in DC. The staff was very friendly. We were the only non-Ethiopians there, but didn't feel like outsiders at all. The best part is that they are open until 1:30am Sun-Thur and 2:30am Fri and Sat. We are thrilled to find a delicious replacement for late night mediocre Chinese! We arrived at 9:30pm on a Sunday night worried they wouldn't still be serving, but much to our surprise, people kept pouring in as we ate. It was actually packed by the time we left. We had the veggie combo platter. We've been using this as our test dish everywhere. We've figured if they pass the veggie test, it would be worth going back to try some meat dishes. They had all of our favorites in the veggie platter, and every item was delicious. They were attentive about keeping the injera flowing. We didn't have to constantly ask for it like we do at other Ethiopian restaurants. Everything had the perfect spice level too. Good kick, but not too hot. Definitely recommend Abyssinia to anyone trying to find a closer-to-home alternative to the DC standards. If you haven't tried Ethiopian before, try this place. Order a combo platter...you can't go wrong. Friendly, delicious, great atmosphere, great location, late hours...thus 5 stars!
(5)Diana C.
This restaurant sprung up on Georgia Avenue (in the Sprung! ha!) suddenly where a Mexican restaurant used to be. Having noted its appearance (only a block away from another Ethiopian establishment), I made a mental note to try it asap. I have now been here a few times, and am happy to say that I like it. The interior still has some Mexican-ish elements from its previous incarnation (the Spanish roof tiles, for example), but the furniture is small groupings of chairs and traditional Ethiopian basket tables, which hold the main serving tray full of tasty goodness. There are small side tables as well to hold drinks and extra injera. As for the food, I found it to be quite yummy. It's on par with the other downtown Silver Spring restaurants, and that is a good thing. There are a few kinds of kitfo, which were delicious, and a good vegetarian sampler platter, which was similarly tasty. They, like many other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, bust out the smooth jams (except not so smooth) later in the evening. Depending on where you are sitting, this can be a deafening and annoying experience. Either try to sit away from the huge speakers, or going earlier in the evening when you won't have to resort to screaming across your tibs to your dinner partner.
(4)Emanuel L.
DO NOT GO HERE. My sister and boyfriend went here to get a drink. The server asked for ID. They presented their Irish passports. The server gave the passports to the manager. The manager ask them for their VISA. They informed him the were there on holidays and did not have a VISA. The manager told them that there is a law that says you have to have a VISA to drink in any Montgomery county bar. I researched and asked around and there is no law that says that. I am very frustrated that the manager would lie to them and send them away. They went to other bars and were served without being asked for a VISA. So the manager was just lying and did not want to serve them, for whatever reason. That is not good business practice.
(1)S. G.
I am sad to say, but recently this restaurant has not been as good. The past two times I have gone, many of the dishes just lacked flavor and seemed like they needed to be cooked for a bit longer.
(2)Li D.
This is one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants, in an area where there is an Ethiopian restaurant on every corner (not to mention, more Ethiopian restaurants a few miles away in Adams Morgan). The prices are excellent, and they are very generous with the portions. I've been to Ethiopian restaurants where the portions were very small. Not the case here. Two orders of the vegetarian combo will feed four people nicely. Don't make the same mistake that I make, and order four servings for four people. It will be way too much food. Too bad, they only have one chicken dish, but that's okay, because it is quite tasty. The vegetarian options are nice too. They keep bringing injera, which is wonderful. One caution -- I would NOT recommend any of the raw or lightly cooked meats. The texture is a bit challenging.
(3)G M.
Good , reasonably priced Ethiopian food, but I've had better and cheaper. Food was a little spicier and yet less flavorful than my ideal. The restaurant has a nice, casual atmosphere. I will probably go again, but I'd be curious to try other options in the Silver Spring area.
(3)Mike S.
Another Ethopian restaurant in Silver Spring! I actually went here thinking it was a different one. The service was better than the other, and the food was just as good -- which is to say, great! I had the vegetarian platter, and like at their competitors, it's really too much food for one person. I was very hungry, though, and it was delicious, so I ate it all and was quite satisfied.
(5)Todd K.
I have been here 4 times and always sit at the bar. service is excellent and the food is very good. I try something new each time but my favorite is the lamb dish with jalepenos mixed in. I cant wait to go back!
(4)Natasha D.
this place rocks..the food is great,the service.awesome..the owners are hands on,and it is always busy..ny late boyfriend took me there on our second date..may he rest in peace' this place brings bitter sweet memories,it will always have a place in my heart..
(5)Toby C.
This is one of the unkept secrets of Silver Spring. The food is wonderful and fresh. The owner has every NFL, NBA, and Soccer game on one of his many TVs. I have tried many Ethiopian places in DC and none compare to the service, taste, and ambiance of Abyssinia. The take out service is great. Don't be shy, have a seat and I bet the owner comes out to chat. You can't get that anywhere else in this area!!
(5)