Chercher Ethiopian Restaurant & Mart
Ethiopian restaurant · Shaw
1334 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
Highlights
Authentic Ethiopian dishes with vegetarian options, plus wine
Authentic Ethiopian dishes with vegetarian options, plus wine
"This longstanding Shaw staple earns widespread praise from locals and celebrity chefs alike (Top Chef star Kwame Onwuachi is a known fan). Named after the West Hararghe zone in Ethiopia’s Oromia region, Chercher serves sauteed short ribs, fried tilapia, and ginger-spiked lamb stew complemented by tej, a regional honey wine. Sit and stay in its charming dining room or order online here. Additional area locations sits in Bethesda and Columbia Heights." - Tierney Plumb
"Founded by a member of a restaurant family in 2012, this Shaw outpost relies on a Columbia Heights central kitchen and a berbere blend made by the owner’s cousin to his specifications; its doro wat is served with a generous helping of thick yogurt to temper the heat. The spot has attracted thousands of positive online reviews and benefits from heavy foot traffic thanks to its proximity to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center — a welcome sign in 11 languages greets arriving diners." - ByLenore T. Adkins
"Chercher is the spot your (transplant) coworker is bragging about having just 'discovered' but as real ones know, Chercher's been the spot. Located on 9th and U St, Chercher is not an overrated cult classic, but a restaurant worthy of the hype and praise. Head to the second floor of the rowhouse and join the crowd awkwardly standing around the door waiting for a table because this restaurant doesn’t take reservations. That said, you should gladly cram in because the food here is that good. Their shiro, a chickpea stew, might be the best in the city and the vegan deluxe special comes with enough food to be shared with three people for only $20. " - omnia saed
"DC’s Ethiopian food game is stronger than anywhere else in the country, so you definitely want to hit one of our local restaurants. Head to Chercher in Shaw during lunch for some of the city’s best—and it comes without a long wait. Get the shiro, a chickpea stew, and the vegan deluxe special that comes loaded with classics like collard greens, lentils, and beets. It’s great for sharing with a group, though we’ve been known to get through it on our own." - tristiana hinton
"When you show up at Chercher on Monday night, you’ll join the crowd awkwardly standing around the door waiting 20 minutes for a table. This Ethiopian spot in Shaw doesn’t take reservations, though it gets really busy here on weeknights, but they have service down to a science. Chercher sits on the second floor of a rowhouse with tattered tables haphazardly crammed together to accommodate as many people as possible. Get the $20 vegan deluxe special, served with lentils, chickpeas, and collards, that comes with enough food to be shared with three people." - tristiana hinton, omnia saed
