Abyssinia Restaurant

Being a performing Artist is very important that certain locations where I perform at I'm able to obtain my royalties and I am very fortunate that this location is registered

Went for a late, late lunch. Service was superb, but the meal was the best Ethiopian fare I have had in some time. My new favorite! Food (vegetarian combo) was fresh and spicy. The greens were the best I have had anywhere. Injera was very good, and plentiful.

Nice casual place to visit for hookah. They have a seating area located in the side alley of the restaurant. We went on a Friday night and they had a dj outside playing great tunes. Would recommend getting the sambusas! Abs delicious.

The food with the drink, ow it’s really going with the solo music, it’s really change my vibe 💽, o gash all so that the Cherokee o wee.

I stumbled in here after a concert at the Fillmore just looking for a quick bite, but the food was incredibly tasty and the service was very good even though I walked in quite late (being open til 2am was a godsend). I ordered the Lentil sambusa and the Abyssinia Tibs, which were both delicious and the portion size was generous. I don't normally review restaurants, but this place is definitely worth it!

Ordered the beef tibs and got a big chunk of meat (mostly fat) on a bone smh had to toss the whole thing, complete waste of money..Not to mention, the owner was RUDE. I won’t be returning, I will continue going down the street to Champion Kitchen Instead

Very good place to drink a beer or taste the delicious food. The music is very good and the staff is super friendly and helpful.

The food is absolutely delicious. The wait staff are very accommodating and polite. The atmosphere is appealing and clean and relaxing soft music plays in the background. The bar are is clean put away and organized. Floors and tables are clean and front entrance is welcoming. I’ve had no bad experience to name in this place. By far I’d give this restaurant at 10 out of 10 for all of the above… food, service, and atmosphere. I also had no trouble with parking.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. My cousin moved to DC area a while ago and she brought me here. Definitely a new flavor that I had never tried before. Make sure you can tolerate spice because it can get pretty hot. Very interesting and cool experience. * Esta fue la primera vez que probé comida de Etiopía. Mi prima se mudó al área de DC hace un tiempo y me trajo aquí. Definitivamente un nuevo sabor que nunca había probado antes. Asegúrese de que puede tolerar el picante. Muy interesante experiencia.

Delicious, delicious, delicious. The meat was nice and tender and well seasoned. The side salad was okay but not expected. I'm not a raw tomato person so I would've known the salad was the side I would have requested it without the tomatoes. Not a deal breaker but a minor comment.

Excellent food. Some of the best doro wot I've had. Wed karaoke night is a lot of fun. Good service. Owner is really nice.

First time here was last night (reggae night). I enjoyed seeing Ras Slick and the Dutty Bus crew perform! My friend and I were here a little after 8:30 and luckily were able to get some drinks in before happy hour ended at 9 (yes 9 and it's daily)! This place is much bigger than I thought. The front is the restaurant and we didn't eat, but I'll be back (I love Ethiopian food). The back area is a bar with an extra room at the very back and there's outside space available for hookah and drinking. Service was great and I was really enjoying the laid back vibes! If you want a chill evening without the hassle of getting dressed up or paying a cover, then this might be the place for you. Check em out!

The combination platter was a good value of mostly delicious accompaniments atop a large injera. We got two additional injera on the side--and the server brought us a third one upon request. Although several Ethiopian restaurants compete within a few blocks in Silver Spring, Abyssinia exceeds others in having many outdoor tables well spaced and away from the street in a clean alleyway next door. I deducted a star (from 5) because the vegetable dishes (cabbage/potatoes, etc.) were not prepared that well. Also, the restrooms were not very cleaned/well maintained. Otherwise, all was good.

My niece and I decided to go to this Ethiopian restaurant on a Friday night and we expected to wait for a long time but was pleasantly surprised. The wait staff was friendly the food came out in a timely manner. The food was absolutely delicious. Everything was hot fresh and was not too spicy. I also will recommend the Honey Wine that went well with our dinner. If you dine in just fyi, we were a party of two and was charged (18%) gratuity on the bill. Assuming that's how much the standard is.

The goosebump font of the restaurant facade, darkly tinted windows, and neon bar lights were not at all promising. Had it not been for a community event, I would have never dined here. I am so glad I was obligated to try their food because it's DELICIOUS. (note: I didnt pay nor parooz the menu) I came for a team meeting held in Abysinnia's meeting/event space upstairs (11 min walk from Silver Spring metro). As culturally expected, my Ethiopian crew dribbled in randomly through the night, our server managed the traffic impeccably- popping in for tea orders, and corralling our group of 14 to come to a consensus on a food order. Food (Ethiopian-Family Style) We ordered a veggie platter and 2 meats platters which satisfied our group of 14 Beef tibs- excellent Fish tibs- excellent, best i've ever had seasoned with light spices which placated any strong fish smell/taste without dousing it in oil. kitfo/steak tartare- good, wish it had a bit more butter Veggie platter was standard to other Ethiopian eateries came with; lentils, yellow split peas, cabbage, potato & carrots, tomato salad; all of which were cooked to the right consistency. Most Ethiopian restaurants pulverize their veggies. This place did not. Overall very happy with the quality of the food! I hope to return and get more comfortable with the menu.

My partner swore by this place so I decided to check it out with them and I was blown away! Immediately I was captivated by the vibrant energy of this place. Beautiful decor, live music, lively people. Just all-around good vibes. Then to make matters even better, the food was amazing! And there were so many Ethiopians eating there, which is always a good time. The service was amazing too, and you can even have some hookah with your food. 11/10!

Great place to enjoy Authentic African Cusine from Ethiopia and Habesha Beer. Service is very good stay for a whole you're home

I am very disappointed by how this restaurant tries to prey on its customers. For the second time I have seen in my receipt both a "Gratuity" at 18% and also a suggested tip which starts at another 18% or so. Not only did I paid my bill with the full gratuity, they also charged me another 18% tip. Frankly, I'm not writing this review for the money. I don't have the time to go there and argue for 5-10 dollars. But I am a neighbor of the Silver Spring area and would have been more than happy to patronize this place as we move forward from COVID. Sadly, I cannot return to this place anymore. It's an illegal practice and should be noticed by management. For anyone who's interested in visiting, keep an eye on your bill and credit card statement.

We came here after we refused to pay a $10 cover charge for nearby Society Lounge. #nocashoops The live reggae music was enticing, and we slipped inside to see if it was worth staying. The group had a very charismatic lead singer, and they played a variety of songs. We each got a margarita, which was very large, but was $14. I don't think it was worth that much. The service is attentive, and the food looked good. I'll have to return for the food!

The food was excellent! We ordered the dish for two. Came with beef and lamb stew, chicken, few different vegetables and hard boiled eggs. Very flavorful! We'll be going back for more!

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!!

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.

There are other great Ethiopian restaurants in Downtown Silver Spring, but this one tops my list so far. I got a Groupon for a vegetarian combo platter for two during two occasions with different family members in town. The platter for two, is probably big enough to serve three or even four. As a result, I had ample leftovers both times. You do want to make sure the box with leftovers is closed well, as the injura dried out both times but the vegetables/lentils/etc. was still amazing. Everything in the platter was high quality and beats that of the other several restaurants I have been to. They are also open really late, so this is a good place to go to if you are hungry late at night and most other good places are closed. I look forward to coming back!

Decided to try a different location today. Had a taste for tibs. Man was I highly impressed. When I walked in the place was empty. Normally a red flag but I tok the risk. High risk, high reward! Ordered the Derck ribs, savory lamb chunks (diced), with onions, jalapenos and special seasonings. They were prepared nicely, even though they were small pieces it wasn't too dry. It came with 2 sides, I got collards and cabbage. The cabbage was soft and well seasoned also. Overall the food and atmosphere were delightful. The waitress even encouraged me to try the lunch specials next time to save on money, lol! The manger waited on me and was very knowledgeable. I would definitely come back.

It may matter here what you order on the menu. Absyssinia is filled with Ethiopians. That would usually be a good sign -- but there was one catch. The Ethiopians were DRINKING but they were not EATING. For the Ethiopians, red wine and beer were the beverages of choice with Diet Pepsi being a third choice. (i.e. They were not drinking Ethiopian beverages and there would be no reason for the house to make the Ethiopian beverages good.) The place does serve food but it was generally being served to Americans. (i.e. Ethiopian food is not what keeps their customers happy.) The standard American Ethiopian food served on enjera was ho hum. Two good bean dishes that had some fire to them and some interest. There were two other dishes that were made of different colored lentils and were totally bland. Bland lentils are almost never of interest. There was boring cabbage and carrots. There were beets that could have been out of the can. There was good enjera - but every place has good enjera. The Tej (Ethiopian honey wine) showed me why the Ethiopians were drinking red wine and beer instead. The Tej was made with some kind of Chardonnay which made it cloying and unpleasant. I forced mine down. Why not give them one or two stars? All those Ethiopians in the place were there for a reason - and I don't think the reason was the "same old same old" Ethiopian food we were ordering. I suspect there is a way to get the kitchen to give you something special - either by ordering the weird looking non-standard dishes or finding a way for the kitchen to get you something that is really hot. The menu has lots of items that were not the stereotypical spicy food served on enjera. Kifte sandwich. Spaghetti rice (rice vermicelli) served with various garnishes. The not-favored-by-American dishes could be a different story altogether. However, I might be wrong on that call too. The most prudent strategy might be to only come here if you have an Ethiopian friend who could steer you reliably to the good stuff.

If I am going to keep rambling in my reviews about how much I love Ethiopian food, I really should learn the names of the dishes as I make the concerted effort to eat more Ethiopian food. Abyssinia was a spot which I bookmarked because of the name alone. Well that's not entirely true. I have also been on a miniature, explore Silver Spring kick, so of course I had to try Abyssinia. Sitting down, the menu sort of had me throwed. It didn't read like what I was used to seeing. I expected to just say, "We'll have a _____ platter and two sambusas," after only a cursory glance given to the menu. There were platters for two people and platters for one, in addition to Mesob's for two. I was confused and my cousin was eyeing his own dish so I ended up ordering a Vegetarian Platter for one. While waiting for our food, I went to go wash my hands, nary a Euro utensil was about to be used so I that was a must. The Men's Room was out-of-order but there is a sink in between the two restrooms. I washed my hands and sat down to see what Abyssinia was about. The lights were down, way down. I would have liked it brighter but I was just a dining in. I loved hearing the laughter and the conversations I couldn't understand over the music playing. It all felt genuine. Then the Sambusas came. They were lentil and legit. Over and done with, with the quickness. I was even more ready for my platter. When my platter arrived, I knew I would be sharing with my cousin and he was fine with that. It seems like their platters for one could easily accommodate two at most other places. My least favorite Ethiopian dish is the Timatim (Tomato and Onion Salad). From here on out I will ask for double something else in lieu of it. But I do believe I would like it more as part of a Firfir dish, been doing my research. The Gomen Wat (Collards) were aight. I've had better at other places. The Kik Alicha (Split Yellow Peas) was o.k. also. The Atkilt Wat (Cabbage) was amazing! That and the Tikle Gomen (Potatoes) made the meal for me. The Misir Wat (mashed Red Lentils) were good. I like me some Misir Wat. Everything combined, made me a happy diner. Abyssinia is worthy of it's great name!

Had a Groupon for the vegetarian platter for two; food was good. Paid extra $30 to cover our bar drinks and lentil sambusas. Staff was friendly and attentive. Enjoyed the live music.

This is probably the only review that you will ever see me right that has atmosphere as a ding from a star's perspective. The food was awesome. The portions are large. The meat was very flavorful. The veggies were equally as flavorful. My husband and I ordered veggies for 2. We probably should not have done that. I would say to start Order veggies for one and two Meats. We gave back a lot of food. The only thing I didn't like about this restaurant was the atmosphere. There were a lot of people there just hanging out and drinking but not eating. So, at first look it doesn't seem like the restaurant is worth eating in. This is a place where you can't judge a book by it's cover.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

The prices are very good. As far as the music though, the DJ speed up ALL of the songs and they sounded like chipmunks. Everyone else could hear the music was off but the DJ just didn't care.

This place is awful. They repeatedly host loud live music (think a full band and drum kit on a patio that is the size of your average studio apartment) and management is rude, unresponsive, and disrespectful. We have attempted to address this issue by phone and in person and have been hung up on and physically pushed out of the restaurant. In fact, the most recent time I called to speak to them about the incredibly loud drumming, I was told that a manager wasn't even on the premises...which is a violation of liquor laws. To have such a great neglect for the neighbors and the county ordinances is bad enough but to be dismissive and combative about it is even worse.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!?!??!?!

Last weekend, I came in for dinner and had the veggie platter. To my surprise, it was absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. The owner greeted me, and his waitstaff were pleasant. There was entertainment that evening too. For that moment, it felt like I was at a restaurant in Addis Ababa. I had an awesome experience, great food, entertainment and friendly patrons. Definitely visit if you're in downtown Silver Spring.

Nice waitresses, good food, well decorated, just wish they had their own parking lot but street parking is OK just tough finding a spot sometimes.

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.

The owner is a really sweet person.. Their was a Dj playing (jah sound I think ), I must say them guys play good. The owner must have good taste. The employees are very welcoming. It's big lounge so we are usually in the back part. The hookah is nice. But their drinks alil pricey. I enjoy coming to Abyssinia . There was a lil incident while we was their but security handle it very well and for that I'm sure they deserve five stars from me. People are gonna find little reason to put a business down. But me I go based on personality and services . I must say service is excellent .

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!!!

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!

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....

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.

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.

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!

This was actually the worst Ethiopian food I've ever had--that's not to say that it's terrible, but just that one can definitely do better and I would try some of the other places nearby before going back. The service and ambiance were excellent--pretty decor, nice music playing and a soccer game (muted) on tv which I love. We had the Abyssinia Messob (big combo thing) with some meat and some vegetarian dishes; the meat ones were pretty good (although a tiny bit overcooked I'd say), but with the vegetables I felt like a little kid (ew gross!). I'm not a picky eater and usually love Ethiopian, but the spinach and cabbage are not anything I ever want to eat again. I would definitely recommend ordering peas/lentils/collard greens (things that we didn't get to try) instead.

Wandered in for lunch on New Year's Day when many of the other nearby Ethopian restaurants were closed. The portions were huge and reasonably priced. The lamb was quite good, and the vegetarian combo was solid but unspectacular. With so many options in Silver Spring, I'm not sure if I'd return to Abyssinia -- but if you're craving Ethiopian food, you could do much worse.

I liked the outside seating on a warm spring day. You can watch the world go by on Georgia Avenue and enjoy some good Ethiopian food at this restaurant. Friendly owner and the restaurant was not very busy, when I came. it was late in the afternoon. Simple decor, with tables and chairs picnic style. The owner promptly took my order or Doro Wat, a marinated chicken curry kind of dish that tasted good and not too oily or spicy. It came on a bed of Injera and boiled greens. There are many other Ethiopian restaurants around. This was a good experience here.

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.

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.

**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**

Free live music on Mondays in the back bar is awesome! Very intimate and volume is perfect. The band is so joyful. The food is tasty and portions are huuuge. The lamb and rice are especially good.