Doro Bet Bati (Chicken House)

"Remember when people used to give you money and say “go get yourself something nice”? Maybe it was a weird distant relative giving you $20 for your birthday, or the person you’re in a situationship with sending a Venmo your way. Sure, as a kid you probably spent it on a Hollister t-shirt, but we’re here to tell you how to spend that Venmo cash now. It’s on a plate of incredible Ethiopian food at University City’s Doro Bet. This West Philly corner shop puts Ethiopia front and center. On its bright walls, Addis Ababa—the capital city—and neighborhoods like Seratenga Sefer and Zenebework are all painted in an Amharic word cloud. The dining room has hanging lights, artwork, and a menu written in colorful chalk above the plant-lined counter. You can order ahead online or upfront next to the glass display (with specials like tiramisu made with Ethiopian coffee inside). If you eat at the seats along the wall or the tables near the picture window, you’ll see groups of college students having a casual lunch, hospital workers who couldn’t resist an order of mid-shift shawarma wings, and people from the neighborhood talking about weekend plans near mesob baskets. photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO There’s no shortage of African spots near Baltimore Avenue. But Doro Bet sets itself apart with excellent service and a menu with few forgettable dishes. The chicken options are all over the map—half and whole, sandwiches, shawarma salads, and our favorite, doro wot—and there are some solid vegan options like teff-flour fried mushrooms. This makes the easygoing restaurant a crowd-pleaser for anybody interested in perfectly stewed, peppery, always satisfying food. Open every day of the week (except Tuesdays), stop by when you want to relax, sip on a hibiscus iced tea, and have food more comforting than sitting by a fireplace in the winter—or that old Hollister t-shirt. Food Rundown photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Mac and Cheese This mac and cheese will make you feel lucky, like finding a parking spot in under 10 seconds in Center City. The caramelized top layer of cheddar and pillowy center in each spoonful makes for the perfect balance of chewiness. It’s just a dash of salt away from perfection. photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Enguday Like anything they fry here, these mushrooms are as flawless as a three-day weekend. Coated in the same teff flour used for the chicken, this crispy, light basket is the perfect way to get that satisfying crunch but want to keep things meatless. photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Addis Fries Fries are the most versatile food in the world. They go with anything, are both a snack and a meal, and can be topped with the works. Here, they’re super crispy, peppery, and pair as well with the chicken sandwich as the summer does with Phillies baseball. photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Shawarma Wrap When you want one of the few things on the menu that won’t put you in a (welcome) food coma, go for this wrap. The warm tortilla is stuffed with juicy cubes of chicken, fried onions, pickles, and toum (a garlicky yogurt sauce you’ll obsess over). photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Fried Chicken The last time we stopped by, we overheard a fellow patron asking questions about the chicken. After a free sample, the person ordered a whole chicken. Each batch is beautifully crunchy and comes in flavors like lemon pepper, awaze, and spicy berbere. Order some, and then order some more. photo credit: NICOLE GUGLIELMO Doro Wot Our favorite thing on the menu, this chicken is so tender it falls off the bone and into a spicy stew of berbere, onions, and ayib cheese. It also comes with a hard-boiled egg and spongy injera." - Candis R. McLean