CherCher Ethiopian Cuisine

The food is AMAZING. If you eat meat. I ordered a chicken dish—the meat was so tender. The spice is more than just heat—it’s pure flavor. I ordered the chicken dish with a boiled egg, and the curry has just an unbelievable aroma to it. Love the texture of the injera (the spongy bread). The reason I rated it four is because I did feel like the vegan options fell a little short. There was ten sides offered in the vegan platter, but I felt that they were significantly less flavorful than the chicken dish. Overall, would 100% recommend if you’re looking to eat meat.

My family and I come here on a regular basis and the food never disappoints, we absolutely love this place! The vegan options are amazing, we always get the vegan delight delux, and the meat options are also great (my boyfriend loves them).

Amazing service and excellent food. We got the sambosa, the special tibs and the deluxe vegan combo. Everything was so good. Can't wait to come back again

I've had the opportunity to eat at the CherCher 9th St location, so My expectations were very high. The place has indoor and outdoor seating. The decorations are filled with fine art. The music has set the ambiance perfectly. I ordered the #LambTibs with #Injera. They were seasoned so well. The waiter was very nice and helpful. My Food came out quick and was hot. The bathroom was clean. I really smiled my experience.

Small cute little restaurant in Bethesda. It was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I really liked it. I have no other references to compare the food with, but I can tell you that it was very delicious. I love the Ethiopian style tomato salad, it had the right amount of spices and sourness. We tried a veggie platter combination and their tibs platter. They served the food with injera bread which is an interesting concept. Definitely give this place a try!

I went here one time during my trip to DC with a group of 5. We made a reservation in advance. First time trying Ethiopian cuisine and it was a nice first experience ☺️ The food was good and the atmosphere feels like a cozy family dine-in. Affordable price!!

The dining room was beautifully decorated with soothing golden tones and original art work. The staff was supportive but there seemed to be some kinks in the service; we had a dish almost delivered to us that we hadn't ordered (we declined it as the server was presenting it to us), and there was audible dialogue among the staff as to who ordered it. I'm sure it will get smoothed out soon as this is a new place. As for the food, it got an excellent rating from Tom Sietsema in the Washington Post and we were very excited to try it. The lamb was a generous portion, very well prepared, tender and tasty. The chicken was fine but the serving was like a miniature chicken leg, about less than half the size of a regular chicken leg. I'm not sure if that was intentional as it was part of a sampler platter. My only other comment is that I was really looking forward to the spicy lentils as I have enjoyed those in the past at other restaurants, but this recipe seemed different than what I had sampled in the past. It was more smoky and much, much spicier. My husband enjoyed it. This place is a lot more upscale in appearance than most Ethiopian places we have been to, without higher prices, so that is a good value and a plus in my book.

Early dinner for two with tip $63.00. Food was delicious, freshly made, unique vegan and meat dishes, special bread was a nice compliment to eat with dinner, using hands. One issue: My dessert was still frigid, out the freezer. Service, helpful, friendly on what to order. Atmosphere and color scheme was impressive Parking in garage or some parking on street.

While we have a small roster of go-to Ethiopian restaurants near our home in NoVA, we always enjoy trying new places. Chercher's well regarded reputation and relatively sizable menu led us to trek to Bethesda when the craving for injera and veggies struck. This place is located just a block away from the Bethesda Row development. We were lucky to snag a spot on the street right in front of the restaurant, though ample parking decks a couple blocks away exist. Upon entering, the place feels modern and clean, which contrasts pleasantly to the more utilitarian ambiance of our usual Ethiopian haunts. We opted for the "deluxe" vegan sampler as well as the lamb wot. The vegan sampler brought the standard array of multicolored vegetable noshes, of which the boldly seasoned misir wot, the tender and zesty string beans, and the smooth, spicy shiro wot excelled. We found both the yellow lentils and the cabbage/carrot dish passable due to undercooking, but the flavors satisfied nonetheless. The lamb wot we sampled here likely represents the best rendition of the dish we've had. The rich, berbere-inflected gravy smothered generously portioned, tender chunks of juicy lamb meat, making for a perfect bite with a pull of tangy injera. Usually, the lamb dishes are an afterthought on beef-heavy Ethiopian menus, so the deliciousness of the stew pleasantly surprised us. As with most Ethiopian places around, the restaurant offers 100% teff injera for an upcharge. The flatbread possessed a sufficiently tangy flavor though ran a little dry and cold. It may be better to stick to the fresher appearing standard injera, which is complimentary. Overall, despite some minor flaws with the food we found our meal highly enjoyable. The vegetarian items mostly tasted as good as (if not better) than our go-to spots in Virginia and the lamb wot alone is worth the drive over the bridge. We are already planning our return to Chercher, which may indeed rank as our favorite Ethiopian place in the metro area.

Lovely food, friendly service, tasteful and well taken care of interior :) There's a chalkboard by the door about you can put your doodles on, if you so desire :)

Amazingly delicious and packed well for a to go Ethiopian meal! I was in town for a business trip and came across CherCher which has great reviews. I'm originally from the area and love this place in Silver Spring so I was eager to check out CherCher. The rest of the group wasn't interested in joining me which was wonderful as I wanted a quiet evening alone haha. I ordered my food via UberEats and it came perfectly package. I got the Yebeg tibs, vegan combo serve kids meal, tomato salad and gluten free injera. Everything was delicious! They gave me so much injera which was nice as some places don't give you enough. The staff paid attention to my notes and included utensils in my order but forgot extra napkins. They also provided quick and efficient service.

Went to this specific location based off a friends recommendation. Took some friends for their first time trying Ethiopian food and they enjoyed themselves. Their favorites were the Zil Zil and Awaze Tibs. Can't wait to bring more friends for their first experience in Ethiopian cuisine.

I love this authentic ethiopian restaurant in downtown bethesda. Great food, good variety, perfectly seasoned food (not too much, not too little on the salt and spices), vegetarian options, good sampler platters. I recommend sharing a vegan sampler platter along with a meat or seafood choice, I like the doro wat which is chicken. Definitely one of the top 5 restaurants in downtown Bethesda.

Food was pretty good, it was my first Ethiopian restaurant but I've had old colleagues make items and bring them in so I kind of aready had a taste of what I enjoy! Finally got to try honey wine which was really refreshing in the summer heat.

What a pleasant restaurant! We go at least once a week to enjoy the finest in Ethiopian cuisine in the DC metropolitan area. And we know this because we've tried all of them. Really. They take care of our gluten-free allergies with their gluten-free injera and their sampler is absolutely outstanding. Each of the dishes is remarkable and we introduced many of our friends to it. The staff is so nice and we enjoy seeing them and I've gotten to know them. We recommend without hesitation going to this wonderful restaurant.

Food was delicious and the service was great. The ambiance is very comforting. The only draw back was finding parking but we figured it out.

Attentive service, generous portions, deliciously seasoned food with an extensive menu. This spot can't be missed!

This place deserves all the praise it gets. It's beautiful from the inside and service is friendly and quick. We shared a vegan deluxe platter, which was enough for 2 people who weren't super super hungry. I would definitely come here again.

My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the world. Ordered here after work at least 2x a week. Service is quick and people are nice. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Great for vegetarians and wine lovers.

We arrived for lunch around 12:30 on a Sunday and it was quiet. We opted to sit outside and a couple of tables filled shortly after. Smaller and upscale decorated interior with a mix of tables including Booth options and a small Bar area. We wanted to try a few dishes knowing we would take some home. Started with the Special Tibs, Kitfo and Kwanta Fir Fir. Tibs was excellent, Kitfo was very good and the Kwanta was a bit too spicy (and we can handle heat). After a debate, we ordered the Gored Gored to try. Traditional version of this dish and very good-would have liked the Beef to be more tender though. Service was engaged and our Server was patient given our questions and requests. Two more locations in DC.

I'm so glad there's a solid Ethiopian place in Bethesda. The restaurant is homey but clean and nicely decorated--perfect for a dinner out. A little background music could be nice as we were the first table here around noon. Friendly service and no complaints there. We shared the vegan platter with seven vegan dishes: yellow lentils, red lentils, green lentils, collard greens, Fosolia green beans and carrots, cabbage and carrots, and a green salad. We also got the awaze tibs. For me the two outstanding dishes were the awaze tibs and the Fosolia and I would definitely get those two again. The Fosolia was tender but naturally sweet, and the ribs were tender, unctuous, and immensely satisfying. The lentils all seemed a bit too crunchy for my taste though the red lentils were the best. The collards and cabbage both needed a bit of salt. Great injera. We will definitely be back. We stuffed our faces and still took home maybe a third of the food. Can't wait to eat the leftovers.

Attractive, upscale restaurant with indoor and covered outdoor dining. Continues to be the best local Ethiopian food for me. I always get the veggie combo. I wish I did not have to pay $2 for each extra injera for take out. It doesn't cost to get extra injera when you dine in.

I had lunch at Chercher with a group of friends today. We all absolutely loved it! The food is so, so tasty, and the portions very generous. We couldn't believe how inexpensive our dining experience was. That just doesn't happen anymore these days. Even though we were there for 3 hours, we never felt pressured to wrap it up and go. This is a fantastic restaurant and I highly recommend it. If it was closer to where I live, it would be a regular spot for me.

A great place Dining room is clean and well maintained. The tables are def too close together though. When this over is full it's hard to get in and out. The staff are very friendly, professional, and helpful. Food is lovely. They even were able to accommodate a couple of food allergies in our group. The only reason it's not 5 stars is the layout in the dining room - too many tables makes it feel uncomfortable being elbow to elbow with dinners on both sides and not being able to get up without bumping into several other people. Even our server couldn't get through to our table and was handing things over from almost out of arms reach

What a gem off the beaten path in Bethesda. Cher Cher is a great spot. From the service to the ambiance and the food!! The wait staff were friendly and accommodating. The food....AMAZING. Flavor is off the charts. A sampler platter is enough for two people to share. The Sambosas are also deliciously good. Someone might have to roll me out of there next time lol. I can't wait to go back again soon.

Stopped in here based on the reviews I've seen elsewhere. Chercher has a small cheery indoor dining room with a bar area and a nice covered outside porch area. I ordered the meat and vegan combo for $35 which comes with lamb stew, chicken, and four vegan portions. They provide plenty of injera. Th food was generally good if a bit lukewarm and was more than enough. Service was fairly poor to be honest.

Excellent food! We enjoyed the kitfo as well as a vegan platter for variety. Service was friendly, although it did take ages to get our bill.

As someone who had never had Ethiopian food before, this was an amazing first experience! I came with two friends and we shared one platter as the waitress mentioned it was meant for sharing. We got the CherCher Combination of Vegan and Meat Sampler - the vegan entrees we chose were Yemiser Kik Wot, Shiro Wot, Fosolia Be Carrot, and Yeater Kik Alecha Wot. The table favorite was the Fosolia Be Carrot, the flavors on this dish were just perfect. We did not particularly enjoy the lamb stew or doro wot - the pieces of the lamb in the stew were delicious but the stew was mediocre. The waitress was very nice and kindly explained us how Ethiopian food worked as we were all first-timers. The restaurant was very cute inside, and had a ton of seating options - both inside and outside. The outside seating is covered, but we sat inside. The restaurant itself does not have any parking, but when we called the hostess had told us we could park at the nearby grocery store, and our car was fine. We definitely want to come again, but would get the vegetarian combo platter!!

Excellent food and service. Very friendly and courteous! The doro wot chicken and egg dish is second to none!

This is my favorite Ethiopian spot in the county without a doubt. The prices are fair and the food is amazing

I came solo to eat. There was a party of white women that came in after me. The server served them but continued to ignore me. I moved locations from sitting outside to moving inside the restaurant to get his attention. It did not help. It's been a good 15 - 20 minutes, I'm still waiting as I type this. So odd, I'm just sitting at a table, no water, no menu. Very sad

We visited CherCher on a Thursday night and the restaurant was about half full. The interior is nicely decorated with various pieces of what I believe is Ethiopian art. Soft jazz played over the speakers for the duration of our visit. I ordered the yemiser kik wot. Our entrees were served with a generous portion of bread and, when we ran low, our server offered us more. The food was absolutely scrumptious. We had a great time at CherCher and I'll definitely be back.

Chercher never disappoints and the Bethesda location is no different! I got the Deluxe Vegan Combo which was enough for two people to share. Every dish tastes so amazing and will keep you wanting more. I like that the Bethesda location allows you to make reservations, but the food took so long to come out as they're a very busy and popular restaurant. The food makes up for the fact for the slower service though as it was so delicious

My daughter recommended Chercher ( Deardear ) to us. How does she do it? She always matches taste with diners. In this case, we ordered large platters of samples and found dishes that appealed to all: from a vegetarian to football players. The plates were bare when we left. It's a stylish space. Staff were attentive and gracious. An air conditioning ceiling vent was so effective that we moved to a distant table. This review is for a muggy evening in August.

We were hyped about this place, but it did not deliver. The waitress looked annoyed when we ordered, and continued with that vibe when we asked for anything. Not cool. Second, they didn't offer a wet towel as is customary at restaurants where you will be eating with your hands. The food was ok, but there's def better Ethiopian eats in DC. Will not be returning.

We had the sampler which easily fed two people. The meat was tender and the flavors were very good. The waitress was very nice and helpful, as we were not familiar with Ethiopian cuisine. The restaurant was nice, relaxed, and friendly.

I thought a long time about whether I should post this review...it was an extremely disappointing experience. It's obvious there isn't enough staff to keep up with the demand. The service was horrendous and they lied a few times about when the food would come out; it was clear they knew how ridiculous the wait for food was and they just wanted to keep us for as long as they could. But, I think this is the owner's issue, I really felt bad for the staff. They don't wash their hands when preparing the plates. Because we waited for so long, we watched one of the staff touch all sorts of things before touching the crepe like thing on plates for servings--which is very hands on for customers. She definitely didn't wash her hands or sanitize throughout...

Absolutely superb Ethiopian cuisine that deserves your attention. Don't be fooled by the small-ish storefront: this place is a veritable powerhouse of Ethiopian food. The CherCher house tibs are definitely a stand-out, but pretty much everything my group tried was drool-worthy. I regularly try to take folks here to try Ethiopian food, as it's such a good representation of how tasty Ethiopian can be.

This was my first Ethiopian food experience. My group shared a variety of dishes (I wish I could remember the names of everything), but everything we had was absolutely delicious! The staff was very friendly and accommodating for our large group as well. I'm not from the area, but would definitely come back if I could!

Excellent food, reasonable prices. I can see why it receives great reviews! I was particularly impressed that my meals traveled well even via UberEATS - it was fresh and tasty. They package the meals well. I also appreciated the generous portions - it tasted great days later as leftovers. I also appreciated the kids vegan option. I will definitely be back!

If you're craving some authentic Ethiopian food, look no further than CherCher! I just moved to Bethesda from Houston and I honestly feel that I have high standards for Ethiopian food because of it. This place was great. My friends and I each started with the Lentil Sambosa. It was my first time trying them and I honestly wasn't the hugest fan. Maybe if it was paired with a different sauce, but it also might just be because I'm not familiar with Sambosas. Usually when I go to Ethiopian, I go straight for the vegetable platter (even though I'm not vegetarian). However, I was really craving salmon and so I tried the Tibs-- definitely the right move! The dish was delicious and paired great with the salad mixture. I'm not sure if it's supposed to be spicy but my only complaint is that I wish it was a little spicy! Would definitely order again. We also all paired our meal with a bottle of Tej, a honey wine that is similar to mead. Majestic. Definitely check this place out!

Loved this place! Not in your expected location for Ethiopian but so happy that there is this option in downtown Bethesda. Adds a much needed flair beyond what's already there. Some Ethiopian restaurants are really hubs for takeout, but this one is that and more. While dining here, I have noticed many carry out orders. That may be in part because I've only dined here during the pandemic. The interior is welcoming, well decorated, well furnished and modern. The lighting is nice and space is open. It feels fresh and clean. They also have an exterior patio, which is a wonderful choice in nice weather but also important for safer dining. They have heating outdoors. So, it's still not indoor temperature, but it is bearable. The food choices are great! I love them all! Shiro on the side plus 7 vegan dishes in one for a sampler platter that's all vegan and with gluten free injera. It feels like a steal of a deal for this much food in downtown Bethesda. Don't worry, I ate it all- I always do! I like the green beans- cooked in a rich tomato based sauce. There are two lentils dishes I this combo. Green lentils with a light mustard dressing and spicy Berbere red lentils- both are delicious and unique. Gomen in two forms are there- a cabbage and a collard greens finely chopped, making it easy to eat. There's also a tasty salad with plenty of tomatoes. Yellow splits peas are a delight. Everything is well cooked! They have had the best gluten free injera I've had anywhere. The traditional injera should be gluten free, and I love it here. Hands down, my favorite injera! It's thin and perfectly made for picking up the food. It is not dry, but pliable and soft. So good! I'll be back here soon. Come join me! The staff is super accommodating and nice. They have hand sanitizer plentifully available. Social distancing enforced. Masks on when not eating. Thank you! Great dining!

CherCher? Yes, yes! The woman who was in charge of the room was friendly and made us feel at home and welcome. The deluxe vegan sampler plus lamb stew and chicken stew were delicious with the exemplary injera, more than enough for the three of us, and the leftovers reheated easily for another dinner for two of us. The Ethiopian Rift Valley Cabernet that we shared was delicious and paired nicely with the spiced but far from very peppery stews and the tangy injera. Looking forward to returning and sticking with just one meat dish, a couple of vegetables, and perhaps a kifto, which is a dish Rudy's a lot like steak tartare, but a lot more seasoned.

I wanted to like this place more than I did. The restaurant was nice inside and the portions were generous. Since I've eaten at a lot of Ethiopian restaurants with 4 stars, I expected more from this one. My husband and I both felt there could have been more heat. We got the Deluxe veggie combo, plenty for two, and sambusas. My sambusa was overcooked, and the lentils inside were dry. As to the platter: some of the veggies lacked spice, were lackluster, and the lentils were underdone. The injera was good. Our waitress was lovely, but the restaurant was understaffed. We waited 40 minutes to get our food even though there were empty tables. I don't think I'll be back.

An Ethiopian friend in Atlanta told me about the location in D.C. We made the mistake of thinking, "they are all the same." Not so. This place is geared more towards the "demographic " of the neighborhood. Caucasian people are the majority of the clientele. Ethiopian's do not even bother with this place. Nothing wrong with that, just a reality of the business model. Fresh enough ingredients, mild in flavor. Ethiopian food usually gives a strong burst of flavors in your mouth. The lack of flavor is disappointing to me. Especially since I was looking forward to this place the entire thanksgiving weekend. All the dishes taste the same. You would fail a blind-test in the different lentils etc. Most definitely will not come back here. I don't like to eat Mexican food where other Mexicans would never frequent themselves. I don't go pay $$$ for Korean food where Koreans don't patron themselves. And absolutely don't go to Japanese restaurants that the Japanese don't dine at. Nothing wrong with that, I just prefer authentic over Western. Having said that, staff is very friendly and place is clean. But food is very forgettable and was highly disappointed, mostly because our Ethiopian friend gave the other location high-marks. But probably our own fault, since we went to the wrong location. Also they upsell their menu and charged an extra $ for menu items. I didn't say anything tho. Integrity is a big deal to me. My personal favorite of the experience was the art work. Coffee was also meh. One word to sum up experience is "meh" but Ive been to some amazing Ethiopian restaurants. Maybe this place is ok for beginners. And definitely caucasian people will "love".l and give it 5 stars lol

First Ethiopian experience. Really enjoyed the lamb (middle). Great atmosphere, service, and food!

Located in between Himalayan Heritage and Fresh Baguette on Bethesda Row, CherCher is one of the very few ( I believe 2) Ethiopian restaurants in Bethesda (The other being Lucy). High marks for design and comfort. It's definitely one of the more modern Ethiopian restaurants I've ever been in. There is a comfy cozy vibe to the place that dovetails perfectly with the restaurants around Bethesda. Fairly high marks for the food as well. There was only one dish which our table all agreed we were not fans of, and it wasn't hard to see, as it stood isolated and left on the large platter that was nearly entirely decimated. One of our favorite dishes of the night was the Fasolia Be Carote. It was this super savory mix of green beans and carrots that we all agreed just had some sort of something about it that made it irresistible. Our service throughout the night was great too. They kept us stocked with an ample supply of injera upon request. The sparkling rosè I had was quite good as well. Also, I don't remember any other Ethiopian restaurant carrying rosè ( and not just that- more than one type of rosè). Truly, I can't wait to go back. One thing I've found about Ethiopian restaurants is that they do veg REALLY well. I mean, if I was a vegetarian Ethiopian would probably be one of my staples. That being said, my thoughts pretty much held true for Cher Cher. Outside of a spicy lamb dish we had, I really did enjoy all of the veg dishes markedly more than I enjoyed the meat dishes. That being said, I would definitely order the Vegan deluxe combo next time. And 100 percent a side of that green bean dish. Wish I could tell you if they were still open during the Coronavirus... they have no posted anywhere on social or their website saying if they were still doing take out/delivery.

Great place for newbies to Ethiopian food like me. The sambosas do have a kick to it from the jalapeños, as do any of the dishes that list "green peppers." The yasa tibs was a tomato based fish dish that was tasty with the injera bread. The bread definitely is an acquired taste, and while I didn't love it, many of my friends did. My favorite was actually my friend's beef tibs, which was the only dish we had without the jalapeños. The staff is friendly and the restaurant is clean! Overall had a great time experiencing a new type of food.

The food tasted really bad. The waiters force you to tip for takeout. Ambiance was good but please don't come here save yourself from this overpriced food

First time trying CherCher and I enjoyed it. Having lived in for 4 years, I like to mix my kitfo with a veg platter. Kitfo is a must try - raw or lightly cooked ground beef that has been flavored with butter and spices. The 'fasting food' (which is what Ethiopians call vegetarian food) was excellent. Most Ethiopians judge a restaurant by the quality, texture, and taste of the shiro, a ground chick pea curry - creamy. Red and yellow lentils, cabbage, carrots, beets. All yummy. This food is generally eaten with your hands, ripping up a piece of the spongy 'njera', a bread made from tef, the world's smallest grain. Overall, I was very happy with the quality of the food. And, to be honest, a bit surprised, given that this restaurant is in Bethesda and not housed where all the other Ethiopians tend to congregate in Silver Spring and 9th Street in DC. Ambience was fine and I enjoyed the Ethiopian instrumental music. Kind service.

YUMMY. After seeing that the CherCher in DC is on the Michelin guide, I decided to try this place out since it was more conveniently located. We ordered the vegan special with the zil zil tibs and HOLY YUM. I absolutely LOVE Ethiopian food and they do a heck of a good job of making it here. The injera here is probably some of the best I've ever bad. They use a good amount of Teff flour so it yields that darker color and has phenomenal flavor and texture. It holds up much better than other injeras that I have had and it had the perfect bounce. The veggies are always a MUST for me. They make the plate so much more colorful and nutritional. I also just love how they cook their lentils--especially their red lentils. The braised carrots with some sort of bean were also one of my favorite veggies. And the zil zil tibs were cooked perfectly. This is a pretty safe meat option if you've never had Ethiopian food before. It's a rosemary spiced ribeye mixture with jalapeño and onion. I hope to return to try a doro wot or gored gored (my personal favorite ethiopian dish!) here next time!

Chercher was absolutely fine. Small little restaurant with a very friendly staff. The sampler was good, but we've been to other places before that allow you to choose what's on the sampler which we enjoyed more. Compared to other places we also felt Chercher was missing a depth of flavor that we've had before. Overall good, not amazing.

This place was small, but the staff was incredibly friendly! All the food was exceptionally flavorful. I'm glad I gave it a try!

Great food and vegan options! Love coming here when I'm in the Bethesda area. I'm a fan of the Deluxe Vegan Combo.

I am so happy that in person dining has returned to Bethesda. CherCher was on the top of my list of places to go. A late afternoon with no humidity allowed us to take advantage of the covered and screened in patio. (Inside is beautifully decorated, but on a night with no humidity, being outside was a good decision.) The waitstaff was friendly, trying to keep up with demand. We ordered only one Lentil Sambosa for an appetizer; note that CherCher also offers Beef Sambosas. For dinner we had the Yebeg Wot lamb stew and the Zil Zil Tibs (beef) and a whole lot of injera! It was so flavorful. Perfect for two people. Highly recommend CherCher.

So having gone back to CherCher again but this time with a much larger group and having ordered a lot more on the menu, I felt like I needed to share how much I adore this spot! Honestly you cannot go wrong with anything on the menu, and it's absolutely one of those spots where it's the more the merrier! Definitely a spot to bring all the friends and to try all the menu items!

This place has excellent Ethiopian food! Food was fresh and tasty. It sure beats cooking at home for hours and having the same authentic taste.