Dama Restaurant and Pastry

Came by as a party of 2 on a Monday lunch. The restaurant is super spacious and gives a family dining room feel, decorated with family pictures honoring the late father of the business owner. The food was delicious - we got the meat platter, and it was enough for the both of us place a couple more meals! Super delicious and freshly cooked. A huge perk is the injera is 100% gluten free, which is not always easy to find. The family running the restaurant was so kind. The only downside is parking. We were lucky enough to get one of the few spots available - not sure how the restaurant gets full with so few parking spots!

The pros: - excellent buffet options during lunch, with all of the traditional Ethiopian veggie sides (red lentils, yellow split peas, cabbage, potatoes, collards and more) - unlimited enjera bread The cons: - Tibs are basically inedible. They use the roughest, chewiest (see: cheapest) cuts of meat that have visible fat chunks on them and, even then, the dish is more than half jalepenos, onions, and tomatoes. A complete waste of $20 I would be ecstatic to find this place if I were vegetarian, but it's a definite skip if you're looking to eat meat

What a spectacular restaurant set in the Arlington-Fort Myer, and Pentagon footprint! I was incredibly fortunate to have stumbled upon Dama Pastry and Restaurant while I was in town for work and want to share my experience here with other inquisitive diners wishing to experience something novel. From the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, Dama Pastry and Restaurant was no more than a stone-throw a way which made it an ideal dining choice for me. After arriving to town that day and settling in at the lodging accommodation, I soon found myself rather famished. Not the one to simply settle for the dining options and venues at the hotel, I wanted to explore the local cuisine. Almost immediately, Dama grabbed my attention when I did a quick search using Google maps. The restaurant sits off of Columbia Pike (Rte 244) at the corner of South Oak Street. The parking situation at the establishment is limited, with 4 spots in the front of the restaurant, while the side of the restaurant has several spots (definitely consider this if you're coming here with a large party). Dama Bakery and Restaurant has 3 distinct sections. There is the bakery (left; make sure you don't walk into the extreme left of the building as it is a salon), the market (in the middle), and the restaurant (right); you can also walk freely from one section to another as they are all connected on the inside. I happened to enter through the bakery from which the staff happily guided me to the restaurant section. Here, I was met with a welcoming host. The setting and ambiance were fairly modest with some portrait hangings that shed light on the history and culture of the establishment and cuisine. This along with the plain-straight forward menu was a refreshing change to the colorful, extravagant decor and menu pamphlets that can sometimes be overstimulating. Although not my first time having Ethiopian food, I still required some assistance and recommendations from the host. Again, the menu descriptions were straight forward and to the point however it contained culturally named items that I was not familiar with. The host was more than gracious and patient to explain these items and make her recommendations based on my preferences. After relatively quick deliberation, I submitted my choices and eagerly awaited the entree. The dish I ended up ordering was the Awaze Tibs. As I waited, I reflected and attempted to recall my previous experience with Ethiopian cuisine. Whilst I remembered the occasion and venue, I did not specifically have any take aways from the meal other than the fact that I simply enjoyed it. When the meal was delivered, my eyes were the first to feast on the platter. While simple in plating and presentation, the notion that the meal was infused with flavor was immediately apparent from the colorful notes that coated the beef cubes and slides while chopped green jalapenos added another splash of color. On the side was a freshly prepared house salad. All of this sat over the injera that met with the circumference of the aluminum plate like a perfectly sized placemat. The meal was paired with more injera that was carefully folded like a crepe ready to be unfurled for enjoyment. Followed by my taste buds, I could have not asked for anything more exhilarating to kick off my work-visit. The spice and aroma paired perfectly to provide a beautiful symphony that played out in my mouth. Eating with just my hands (this is the way), I enjoyed every bite of the beef as it paired with the delightfully sour-y injera. Having some bites with the fresh jalapeno, and some with the house salad, I ate until my belly could no longer - and even then I craved more. I continued to eat the injera that soaked up the juices and stew of the Awaze. Finally, after I was physically and spiritually satisfied, I surveyed the completed platter in a victorious gaze. What a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend to anyone staying at the Sheraton to give this place a try - there is no reason not to - as well as anyone in the Arlington area. It is a 100% must!

Came to this family owned spot while getting my tires changed next door. I ordered the doro wot (chicken) and coffee. The doro wot was amazing, but the coffee wasn't as tasty as the coffee I've had at other Ethiopian restaurants in the area. The server was super nice and the food came out quickly. The decor was reminiscent of a local mom and pop spot and there were several families eating there when I visited. I'll definitely come back for the food!

I catered food for my daughter who is in college( for a birthday). The food was rated 10/10. The pastry was amazing. All The menu is thoughtfully designed, featuring a variety of delicious, hearty meals. The flavors are vibrant, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients . From comforting classics to innovative dishes, there's something for everyone. The portion sizes are generous, ensuring you won't leave hungry, and the meal options are both nutritious and indulgent, making it easy to find the right balance. The cake is a standout feature, especially for those celebrating special occasions or just in need of a sweet treat. It's rich and flavorful, providing the perfect end to any meal. Delivery is prompt and reliable. You can count on your order arriving on time, making it a convenient choice for families who are ordering from out of state. In short, Dama Restaurant combines fantastic food, great portion size. Whether you're dining in or ordering for delivery, the experience is sure to impress!

I would highly recommend Dama! We shared the vegetarian combo and vegan tibs. Being vegetarian, I hadn't had Tibs before so I was so excited that Dama had vegan Tibs! The Vegan Tibs definitely lived up to my expectations. The flavors were delicious and the veggie combo was also excellent. The ambiance was great and the service was pretty fast! The restaurant wasn't too busy on a Friday night so not sure if you need a reservation. Overall I really enjoyed trying out the food at Dama! I also didn't get a chance to try them, but they have so many vegan alternatives of the typical meat dishes at other Ethiopian restaurants so I definitely want to come back to try out more.

Came here mid-afternoon with a friend who has been many times. It's an unassuming but comfortable place. I had the vegetarian combo and wow! Everything was excellent. Way too much for me to eat so I had plenty to take home for later.

I seek out Ethiopian food wherever I am, since I don't have much opportunity to eat it near home and it's one of my favorite cuisines! This restaurant did not disappoint. My friend and I split the vegetarian combo and added both the vegan tibs and the vegan doro wat. Everything was delicious, and we were particularly impressed by their vegan protein. I also enjoyed my ginger tea and had a slice of the coffee velvet cake for dessert, and my friend enjoyed her coffee. Our server was very attentive and service was great. If you're in the area, I would highly recommend trying this restaurant.

Nasty, disgusting, unsanitary. Got a cake, but it was full of flies. They just kept on coming out from the middle of the cake.

We had cookies and pastries plus a tiramisu-all vegan and super delicious!! Very friendly excellent service reasonable prices.

I love coming here for the meat and veggie special. I could eat it every day for a month! The way the parking lot is set up can make it a little difficult to park but if you go during non-peak hours you should have no problem.

This restaurant has been my longtime favorite for years. Whether I'm eating in or taking out the food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and just plain delicious! My favorites are the Asa (fish) dulet and the awaze lamb tibs. The bakery goods are top tier and cannot leave without the Tiramisu! I also love the market side and always leave with some injera and spices for my home. This is a small restaurant with a lot of love inside and I will always patronize whenever I can.

Absolutely the best Ethiopian! Fresh and flavorful. Friendly service. Very welcoming.

If you're seeking a culinary adventure that will leave you speechless, look no further than Dama. From the moment I stepped through the door, I knew I was in for a treat. The ambiance was warm and inviting with a lovely aroma of incense. Every dish was a masterpiece, a symphony of flavors that danced on my palate. We ordered the awaze tibs and the vegetable combo. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the food at Dama brought tears to my eyes. It was that good. It was the kind of experience that makes you grateful to be alive.

This is a family fav! Its our go-to place for authentic Ethiopian food (restaurant part). absolutely love the wide selection of veggie options - we usually get the veggie combo and vegan tibs. tho i recommend ordering ahead of time bc they get lots of business and it can be along wait sometimes. the pastry/cafe next door is great too- they have lots of began options that actually taste good considering they are vegan we cant wait to visit Dama again!

Wow! What a cool spot I'm glad I found. Great latte and had the cookies from the bakery. They are fresh and delicious. Great vibe.

From the sweet servers who were so kind to our toddler, to the promo and polite service, to the delicious meal, to the desserts to-go! Every step of the evening was bliss and magical. After a long day of sightseeing we ran back to our hotel room and then walked over to this little place, which is not so little of you count the bakery, the store and the dining room! We had the vegetarian combo and the beef tibs as suggested by many on YELP and we were thrilled to eat to our hearts content! One bite after the next, and the perfect setting for our toddler to join in on the meal! We will keep this place on our list when we return to DC in the future! Thanks to the sweet servers for treating us newbies like family and for dotting on our sweet baby!

I did myself a huge disservice by not coming to this restaurant sooner. I had tried to go in the past.. but it was always busy...too busy for me to even get a parking space. I guess that should have been a sign for me to keep trying!! Clearly I was missing out. Anywho, I ordered the Awaze tibs (my fav) and veggie combo to go, and it was some of the best Ethiopian I've had in Arlington! Everything was seasoned well, and the tibs weren't in a pool of oil like you may get at some other restaurants, but they weren't dry either. They were just right! The Veggie combo comes with Gomen (collard greens), Atakilt wot (cabbage, carrots, potato), Misir wot (red lentils), Kik alicha (yellow split peas), Shiro (ground split peas), and a green salad. I highly recommend ordering a meat dish and the veggie combo so that you can get a little taste of everything.. especially if you're a first timer! I didn't try any of their pastries or coffee this time around, but I'll definitely be back!

Dama is my favorite Ethiopian spot in Arlington. I've never had a bad meal here--in fact, every meal has been great. This is a perfect place for vegans and vegetarians to get a hearty, flavorful meal that isn't just a menu afterthought. You won't miss meat or dairy if you get the vegetable platter. There are also good meat selections if that's what you're looking for. A vegetarian sampler and 1-2 meat dishes will be more than enough for two people. Low contact pickup was very easy. They also have a nice, covered outdoor seating area if that's what you're looking for. The parking lot is small and tight so pickup might be the way to go, though. Tip generously!

I love this place. Parking can be tight, but worth it. Get the awaze tibs and veggie platter. Haven't tried the desserts, but everything looks delicious. Will always be a neighborhood favorite spot!

Whenever I'm in the DMV I make sure to stop by Dama. I really like the vibe of the restaurant/coffee shop. It's super casual and has authentic Ethiopian food. Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, or meat eater Dama has something for you. It also has a wide variety of pastries to choose from. The staff can recommend what sells best.

Of all the area Ethiopian restaurants I've tried, this may have been the most Ethiopian of them. Between all the employees and customers in the three interlocking businesses (restaurant, store, cafe), I think I was the only non-Amharic speaker there. The limited parking outside was about half taxi-cabs (kids, this is what they had before Uber). The cuisine is typical of what you'd get at any such restaurant, with the unusual extra step of offering fake meat versions of some of their dishes to expand the vegetarian portfolio beyond the usual, and their desserts. I did not try either of those things, though their cakes sound awfully good. A veggie combo yielded most of the things I like: lentils, split peas, and cabbage; I also do like when a little fresh salad is included between the various sautees and stews. The ginger and chili powder flavors came through, and plenty of injera both under the stews and on the side made it easy to eat. The ginger tea I ordered arrived as very hot ginger water with a Lipton tea bag; an interesting way of going about things, but a spicy and tasty one in the end. There was also some sort of buffet situation going on, but I was directly offered the main menu, and ordering something vegetarian seemed wise. It wasn't the nicest building, and parking is a bit of a hassle, but I'd be happy to return, particularly to shop at their little store or indulge in a dessert.

I'll confess, I haven't yet become a fan of Ethiopian food. I'll say that on me because I know so many who love it including my wife. Dama is especially friendly to vegans and vegetarians which is awesome! They even have meat analogues for options which I've never seen in ethiopian before. My favorite was the Vegan Tibis- chunks of seitan in s delicious tomato sauce! Big winner! The other one I liked was Yatikilt Wot- as the recipe says "a delicious blend of cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onion". They also have a great selection of vegan baked goods- cake and cookies! Fluffy and light frosting! Moist cake! Very good, worth a trip.

My first time getting Ethiopian food and I was not disappointed. Really good food and very hospitable. Would 100% come back and telling friends to try this.

Enmeshed with a bakery and coffee shop the Dama Restaurant serves a up a delicious bit of ethnic grit. It's the Ethiopian equivalent of Panera Bread. Their customer service is a delight. Late on a Monday night, I walked in to find groups of old men sitting around talking. The barista was counting her drawer so asked if it was too late to see the menu. She pointed me to the door leading to the bakery. Through it was another woman at the counter and I asked the same thing. She pointed me to the door of the restaurant and invited me to have a seat. Recognizing it was my first time she explained the menus to me quite patiently as I was slightly confused. Much of the menu described food I have never heard of some of it was in another language. I asked about the vegetarian options and what is spicy and she guided me to the Vegetarian Combo. I only waited five or so minutes for my food. I learned how to dip the injera flat bread instead of using utensils. My to-go plate was filled by the varieties of the vegetarian combo: Misir Wot, Kirk Alicha, Yatakilt Wot, Gomez Wot and Shiro Wot. Some of the plate was like a garden salad, some of it savory, some sweet and some spicy. I'm not an expert yet and there's no way I can tell you which each of those are but it was a well rounded meal, until next time.

If you're looking for an Ethiopian restaurant in the area, this is definitely the place to go! We had a delicious meal here that left us having to roll out of the door from how full we were. While everything we got was delicious, my personal favorite was the Awaze Tibs. A little tangy and full of flavor! The staff was very friendly and helpful as we tried to figure out what to order. Until next time, I'll be dreaming of more of those tibs.

my husband and I have been going to Dama since the beginning, but nothing worth more than taking my kids back to Dama and seeing the owners treat us as if we are part of their family! it was nice to go back and see you them all!! Thank you for your hospitality!!!

Dama Pastry and Restaurant is a true gem in Arlington's Foxcroft Heights neighborhood. A short walk from the Air Force Memorial, this family-owned Ethiopian restaurant is a market and bakery too. It opened in 1980 and quickly became a staple for Arlington's Ethiopian community. They sell all the usual suspects as well as Ethiopian coffee. However, they also sell large cakes, gluten-free cookies and fresh bombolonis, a frosting less, less-sweet doughnut. For under $3, it was the best fried doughnut I've had ever.

Delicious food and wonderful service. Enjoyed the vegetarian platter and multiple vegan desserts. The fruit Bavarian cake was amazing. Will definitely be back.

I have tried several Ethiopian restaurants in the DMV and this one has the best food so far. Sometimes with Ethiopian restaurants all the food tends to have the same taste but the cook does a great job. Every dish has a unique flavorful taste. Additionally, the meat was cooked to a tender level. The only reason that I did not give it all the stars is because I think that they should work on the ambiance of the place. I looks a bit plain and old and a bit unattractive to customers who want to dine in, instead of doing carry out

What a find! Delicious, authentic Ethiopian food served hot and flavorful. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about, but warm, welcoming, attentive service, and a large, diverse menu of appetizing choices, each dish exceeding expectations, made for a great and inexpensive dinner out with friends!

What a treat. Food was authentic, delicious. Takeout on a Friday night didn't take more than 20 minutes. Also easy to navigate from an allergies perspective: no nuts in the food and eggs are only used in the chicken. We ordered the veggie combo, kitfo, and awaze tibs for three which left us enough for leftovers!

This was my first experience with Ethiopian and we were not disappointed. The food and service was amazing. It was full of locals, so you know it is good! We will be back.

Came here and enjoyed the food. It was an ah-mazing place. The people were so kind. We asked what they recommended and it was delicious. I defiantly would offer this for anybody looking for affordable and super yummy Ethiopian food.

EXCELLENT Ethiopian food and GREAT vegan options include their veggie combo, lentil samosa, homemade mock meat dishes & vegan cakes!!!! It's a community gathering spot and makes me happy to see people enjoying the company of those they know. They've been around 23 years.

Love Dama so much. Their vegan/tsom food is perfection. I don't care too much for shiro but there's makes me want it everyday. They have many vegan desserts, too!

This is my family's favorite Ethiopian restaurant! We come often and especially during lent since they have an amazing special. Everything is delicious! I definitely recommend getting a meat platter and the veggie combo. You won't be disappointed. Like I said, we come during lent a lot and tried out their cakes as well. Wow! Sooo good. I could survive being vegan if I lived at Dama :)

Delicious Ethiopian food. Eat here. I usually get the veggie combo. I've had cake and baklava from the bakery and they were good.

Large portions and great value for money. The food was delicious too. The two of us ordered two vegetable combos but wish we had shared one. Glad to have another combo plate for later tho haha The entrance of the restaurant/bakery is a lil confusing so ask for help. Parking is also difficult

Love the fact that they have a vegan buffet. And I adore Ethiopian food. So I was excited to try this place, but tldr; the and food and service (oh, that service...) leave a lot to be desired. Perhaps it is only the buffet food, but everything was salty and oily af. I could barely even eat most of the food, but didn't want to complain. One of the vegan beef dishes that was pretty good, though a bit salty, was stone cold because the fire had gone out. And the rest of the dishes looked as though they needed to be stirred. I feel far less vital leaving there than I did before I stepped in. Now for the service...oh, boy. No one welcomed me in. No one took my order. One of the servers asked me, "What do you want?" and said I could sit down anywhere. It took forever to get a menu. No one asked if I wanted a drink. Eventually, I simply started plating my food because I had things to do and couldn't wait around for them to speak to me. The servers kept passing my table, seemingly going to anyone and everyone who was not me. They never once asked how I was doing, I had to loudly flag them down a few times. I finally asked for the check and they took a long time to pick it up. The young gentleman didn't bring my change, so I asked for it and the woman brought the wrong change. More time waiting for that to be corrected. The servers seemed kind of nice in a way, but simply were not accommodating to me at all. It pains me to say this about an African restaurant that has a variety of veggie options, but I will not be returning.

I cannot believe I didn't go here for every cake need I've had in the last 6 years. I've passed this place so many times and just didn't know the treasures it had inside. This wonderful business has a fresh variety of delicious cakes that they will box up in no time with a special message of your choosing on it. I went in this past Saturday afternoon and was greeting immediately and then helped shortly after. The people are so kind and attentive. The cake itself was fantastic with an airy inside with a lovely white and dark chocolate shell on the outside. Definitely go here.

No frills local Ethiopian coffee place. Old school deserts and teas. Very niche crowd with an attached restaurant. The ginger tea was interesting powder form. Baklava was good but on the heavy side. The restaurant next door seemed popping so will have to come back to try the food. They have a giant sports screen for games though. Coffee menu was limited but fine in a pinch for a cappuccino. The cakes didn't seem particularly fresh or appetizing. Ventured out for Ethiopian coffee though and wasn't too disappointed

Dama is delicious and my favorite authentic ethiopian resto! The food is very flavorful, lots of different flavors. The pricepoint is also awesome. The food is well made and always delicious. Don't forget to check out their bakery, right next to the restaurant. They offer a lot of vegan choices and pasties. And they are delicious! The service is also great, and very friendly! This is definitely my go to restaurant whenever I am craving Ethiopian food!

First time having Ethiopian food tonight and we LOVED it! What an amazing experience from the very beginning to the end. After clearly being first time diners here, the waitress so kindly walked us through the menu and advised us the vegetable combination along with beef tender dish. Oh my stars, folks. The beef was moist, tender, soaked in the aroma of the sautéed onions, with a plethora of side dips, a section of crunchness with a punch of heat from the jalapeño mixed salad, and to top it off with some collared greens along with a potato side that melts in your mouth like butter. My boyfriend and I absolutely devoured this. Service was superior, we came in at the peak of dinner time and the place shortly filled up after we arrived. Overall, this place speaks authenticity, from the food, to the atmosphere, to the one stop restaurant-shop-pastry store trio. You hit multiple birds with one stone I love it! And you know it's that GOOD when you have a jammed packed cozy parking lot with many native Ethiopians in house. Also absolutely enjoyed walking through the mini shop exploring the ingredients they used with our meals, and taking home a pastry to enjoy for later on the night! The pastry shop itself was a cherry on top of the whole experience tonight. Everything was made from scratch and in house, from the savory sambusa pastry to a wide array of decadent sweet pastries! The specific pastries do not have a menu, the very warm and kind lady running the shop came around the counter and generously walked us through EVERY pastry including pointing us towards her favorite ones. We ultimately went with the coffee velvet cake! I felt like I stopped by a neighborhood friends home who made fresh baked goods for the whole street. This place is a gem friends.

Dama Restaurant was highly recommended by a coworker of mine, who was Ethiopian. I have always wanted to try Ethiopian food, so I finally asked her for a recommendation. I don't have any other experience to compare the food to, but overall, I really enjoy my time here. The place is quite big, which included a cafe/bakery, grocery store, and restaurant, which made it a little confusing at first. However, the waitress quickly came out and guided us to the right entrance of the restaurant. There are a few parking spaces outside of the place and plenty on the street right next to it. My girlfriend and I decided to order the Veggie Combo and Lamb Awaze Tibs, both were also recommended by my coworker. The portion was big and it came with 2 side dishes of Injera for each of us. Veggie Combo - 5 dishes with a salad. It tasted clean, healthy, and very filling. Lamb Awaze Tibs - cubed lamb with onion. The meat was tender and yummy. I also really like the spicy flavor of this dish. The waitress was considerate when asking us if we wanted to cut down on the spice, which we politely rejected because we both love spicy food. Everything was warm and delicious! The portion was big so we ended up couldn't finish it all. The service was pretty fast. I'd like to go back and try their dessert/pastry, since we didn't have enough time to try it.

Excellent food, spacious location, friendly service, and good prices! I also appreciated they had vegan dessert options. It's really not a far drive from downtown DC, so I'd recommend crossing the Potomac river and heading here for dinner. Parking was also easy and stress-free.

This was a fabulous find! As vegetarians we were thrilled to find this place! They not only have the usual vegetarian Ethiopian dishes, but also some "fake meat" dishes that were excellent. We ordered the vegetarian combo and the Veggie Tibs(fake beef). Delicious! We asked for injera made from Ethiopian Teff(supposed to be much healthier) and they brought some freshly made. Yum! The baklava and white/dark chocolate cake were excellent as well. We will certainly return!

Thoroughly enjoyed their vegan pastries! The distinguished gentleman who took my payment was very pleasant. I'll definitely be back!

We had an all vegan meal and it was delish. Followed up with cake and cookies to take home. So tasty and the prices are extremely reasonable. Dama, I would pay more for your cake.