"This self-described “Tex-Ethiopian smokehouse” is a berbere-spiced bridge between Arlington and Addis Ababa. The brisket might not be as fork-tender as what you’ll find at other spots on this list, but that’s not really the point. Here, brisket and meaty rib tips are seared with awaze, a traditional Ethiopian condiment that adds an earthy, peppery kick to everything it coats. There’s also smoked doro wat (their take on the spicy chicken stew) and loaded injera nachos, which swap chips for crispy injera bread topped with your choice of meat, stewed chickpeas, barbecue sauce, and ayib, a fresh and crumbly cheese." - nicolai mccrary, kevin gray, nick rallo