Das Ethiopian

Washington, D.C.

For an upscale Ethiopian meal, head to Das, where a formal dining room with large, luxurious chairs and glass-bottled water await you at your table. The service and food are well worth the prices (entrees start at around $15). The menu is unique in that it features ingredients not often found in Ethiopian food like eggplant and carrot wot—a dish of eggplant in a tomato sauce served with rice, spinach and stewed tomatoes. But there are also traditional Ethiopian choices like collard greens gomen and miser wot (red lentils seasoned with Ethiopian herbs).

Meals by Genet

Los Angeles, Calif.

Meals by Genet might be a little pricy, but the price includes servers who are highly knowledgeable of Ethiopian cuisine and culture, and who are happy to explain every ingredient to you, get a feel for your palate and help you select the perfect dish. Try the chicken doro wot—a spicy chicken stew and a national dish of Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Diamond

Chicago, Ill.

Ethiopian Diamond is regarded by most Chicago-area Ethiopia lovers as the best restaurant of its kind in the city. Each dish comes with injera—traditional Ethiopian bread you use to pick up your food. The proportions are very generous and it’s a fun place to share, family-style. Check out the Assa special; it comes with a whole skin-on tilapia fish. The restaurant also features an all-you-can-eat buffet on Sundays.

Meske

New York, N.Y.

Those who’ve spent time in Ethiopia call this the most authentic Ethiopian restaurant of NYC’s several options. The décor is minimalistic, so you can focus on the flavors of the food, and the staff is very friendly. Don’t be surprised to get a free history lesson on the relationship between Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. If you stop in before 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, you can get the generously sized vegetable combo for $9.50.

Ghenet

New York, N.Y.

With dozens of Ethiopian restaurants in each borough of New York, the city got two spots on this list. This laid-back but luxurious restaurant offers all the classics like spongy injera bread, vegetarian as well as meat stews (wats), and honey wine. It’s best known for their beef dishes like gored gored and wat, spiced to perfection. Save room for dessert here—the Kafa coffee sweetened in the traditional manner – with a drop of honey placed under your tongue – is delicious.

Axum Cafe

San Francisco, Calif.

Axum has been serving loyal diners for more than 17 years and is in the heart of the happening, lively Haight area. The Kifto – similar to beef tartare – simmered in Ethiopian butter, seasoned with mitmita peppers and served with house-made cottage cheese, is a favorite.

Asmara Restaurant

Oakland, Calif.

Northern California has welcomed Ethiopian food with open arms, and while Oakland is a small city, it has a strong Ethiopian cuisine presence. The dining room is spacious and light, with charming touches of ethnic décor. Diners love the injera—which the establishment is very generous with—and the red lentil stew is considered exceptionally good.

Addis Red Sea

Boston, Mass.

If you’re in the mood for some comfort, the décor and dishes of Addis Red Sea are perfect. Its buttery herb sauces melt in your mouth and the combination dishes give you the option to pair a meat entrée with a selection of three vegetarian dishes. The kitfo combination is a highlight, with ground steak tartare smothered in butter sauce and chili powder.

Sheba

Miami, Fla.

This slightly upscale restaurant is anything but ordinary. It serves up semi-traditional Ethiopian dishes, but with flavors of the Mediterranean and West Africa blended in effortlessly, making for an intriguing menu. To satisfy your curiosity, get a sample platter for two. The restaurant is also attached to an art gallery, so you can get a little culture with your cuisine.

Addis Ababa

Richardson, Texas

Most diners find it impossible to leave even one morsel of food on the giant plates at Addis Ababa. It has an extensive and delicious vegetarian menu, but meat eaters love the jalapeno chicken and the misto – a combo plate of yebeg alitcha, yebeg wot and yebeg tibs. The restaurant itself feels almost like somebody’s home—warm and bright.