Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant

I recently visited Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant in Baltimore, excited to try Ethiopian cuisine for the first time. We arrived early for our reservation, but the server's blank expression didn't exactly welcome us. We kindly asked to be seated early and were shown to a booth. The ambiance and aroma inside were pleasant, although the space felt a bit small. Fortunately, it wasn't busy during our visit. Despite mentioning it was my first time trying Ethiopian food, our server made no effort to explain the menu or offer recommendations. Luckily, I had watched some YouTube videos beforehand, which gave me a basic understanding. We ordered water, which arrived as bottled Deer Park – a bit unusual. It would have been nice to have glasses provided. Considering the spicy nature of Ethiopian food, not offering free water refills seemed unreasonable. I started with the vegetarian sambusa, which was dry and could have benefited from a sauce. For my entrée, I ordered a veggie platter with fish. Unfortunately, the fish arrived whole, with bones throughout, making it difficult to eat. While it had good flavor, the bones made it hard to finish. The rolled injera tasted fine, but the larger portion underneath the veggie platter was quite sour and lacked flavor. The combination of items on the platter didn't complement each other well. The only standout components were the greens and the red lentils with berbere spice. Throughout our meal, our server never checked in or offered refills on our water. The check was dropped off without asking if we wanted dessert or coffee. The service was subpar, and I reluctantly left an 18% tip. While I'm glad I got to try Ethiopian food for the first time, I'm disappointed that Dukem didn't live up to my expectations. I wouldn't return and would recommend exploring other Ethiopian restaurants with better service and more flavorful food.

Love finding Ethiopian places to eat when traveling, since we don’t get that opportunity locally. Not too busy. Had a ton of takeout orders being picked up while dining, which was a good sign. Will definitely come back when in town.

This small local neighborhood restaurant is absolutely a hidden gem! The food is amazing. The atmosphere is a whole vibe. The service prompt and polite. Don't walk here, run! It's that good! The place is tiny so be aware of busy times. We went for an early dinner, midweek so it wasn't packed. The food was fresh and delicious!

Really liked the atmosphere here. The food was pretty good. I thought the samplers were a bit minimal on their servings, but the food was good.

One of the best places to get vegan food in the city. We get the Deluxe special veggie #1 pretty regularly. It is a huge portion for 2 people and is so so flavorful. We always end up so happy and full. We love Dukem!

Just popped in to sample the food since the heavenly aroma has been summoning me for weeks. What a treat! I had croaker and rice with an array of delicately prepared vegetables with a divine red sauce and a small fresh tomato salad. The portion was very generous which suited me just fine as it was to be my first meal of the day. Thank you so much for your exquisite, professional service and welcoming demeanor.

I went to this establishment like 3 days ago with my little sister. The lamb was crumbled and dry and poorly cooked. The flavors had been terrible and the Samosa was super oily and weird tasting , If you want good Ethiopian food go to silver spring Maryland there’s a nicer bar and the staff is more welcoming and the flavors are amazing along with the portion…they also offer all of the veggies. The address is 11261 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20904

This was a completely new cuisine for me, so I didn't know what to expect. The crepe-like side dish (Njera?) was delicious and I could really eat it plain as well. The curries were all flavorful as well. I would highly recommend the sampler of vegetarian curries. There were so many options that came on the plate and I was the most full I'd been in a while after down it. The prices are solid, and both times I visited, they were consistently good. Come with really hungry guests prepared to eat with their hands! 8

Incredible food -- and if eating in, see if you can get a table upstairs. Great space to gather with friends for amazing Ethiopian food in Baltimore. Plus their delivery rocks.

This was my first time having Ethiopian food and it was a wonderful experience. I was so happy to see so many options for vegetarian/vegan food! The service was excellent, the staff attended to our orders timely. The place is so warm and inviting, I will surely be back again to eat more food :)

The was old and dry. I did not finish my meal because I was afraid of becoming sick. The service was also very slow. I was visiting from out of town and decided to try something new, but this was a mistake.

I've been eager to try Dukem for quite some time, and I'm happy to say it did not disappoint! This is my second experience with Ethiopian food; the first was at a restaurant in Ellicott City, but I can't really compare the two since I wasn't eating beef back then. I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive about trying Dukem due to the mixed Yelp reviews. I ordered the Dukem combo number 2, which included regular beef tibs, key wot, minchet abish, and a tomato salad, along with injera. I didn't eat my meal until the next day, and when I heated it up in the microwave, the aroma was incredible. Ngl, I tried not to get too excited, worried I might be let down, but let me tell you, everything was fresh and delicious! If you're not into spicy food, this might not be for you, but for me, it was just right. The beef was tender with the perfect amount of fat, although there were a few chewy bits. I could have done without the salad. Also, I noticed the price listed online was lower than what I actually paid--almost a $3 difference. I can't wait to return and either try something new or reorder the same dish!

I agree that this restaurant can be hit or miss but when we went fortunately it was a hit! Ordered the unity, which is a great sampler to share if you want to try a lot. Food doesn't come out piping hot. Only con is the price, has gone up over the year.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and loved it. Our table of 3 ordered the deluxe special veggie platter #3 with fish. Everything was so flavorful. Our service was not too memorable; atmosphere was small but cozy. Hope to be back!

The food was flavorful. The staff friendly and accommodating. We spoke for hours while the music played and ended up being the last two in the space. The staff allowed us to hang out. Definitely returning. Especially since our server remembered me from years ago!

Dukem was on my Yelp bestie's Baltimore collection list for a while. We were craving some Ethiopian food. We were a group of three and decided to opt for a combination sampler. We chose to try the Dukum Combo (4), but later when we were billed they charged us for the Dukum Combo (5) so I'm not sure which one we ordered. In the past, we've had our waiters tell us which each thing was, but this server just gave us the plate with no explanation. Thankfully we've had Ethiopian in the past so we could guess which some things were. Like always, the injera was delicious. However, a lot of the things on our plate were a bit one dimensional. I wish they had more flavor like we're used to. While I'm happy we tried this spot, I wish things were a bit more flavorful.

I have been coming to Dukem for the past 5 years with a preference for dining in rather than take-out -- I just liked the food more fresh. I'm glad they were able to make it through the pandemic, and I think it is the best (and maybe only?) Ethiopian food in Baltimore. Ambiance: A very small and casual restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. Friendly atmosphere and feels a little bit more of a hole-in-the wall place being on a street corner tucked away from a bit further from the main bustle of N Charles St. Service: Friendly staff, and no complaints. They explain the menu items that may be new for people experiencing Ethiopian food for the first time. Food: As a vegetarian, I usually get the vegetarian combo or the platter, depending on how many people I am sharing with. The vegetarian platter is always a visual delight, a colorful display of a variety of plant-based dishes arranged in perfect harmony. The injera bread, a staple of Ethiopian cuisine, served as both plate and utensil, enhancing the sensory experience of the meal. The tangy, slightly spongy bread was the ideal counterpart to the bold flavors of the vegetarian dishes. Some of the vegetarian curries include spiced split lentils, yellow peas, collard greens, potatos, tomato salad, spiced cabbage, and more. The food is consistent and flavorful each time. They offer more injera bread as needed. I would note that there not alternative options to injera, such as rice, if you dislike the sourness of the bread. Overall, reliable place in Baltimore that I like to go once every few months.

Stopped by with my vegetarian kid on a day trip to Baltimore. Although I'm a carnivore, I also love my veggies and I had high hopes for the deluxe veggie combination. I knew it would be pretty big so I just ordered one portion for the two of us. The plate was colossal and filled with a great variety of delicious things (see pic), including a yogurt dish I'd never had before. Injera bread was fresh and delicious. We were both stuffed and happy afterwards. Service wasn't super friendly but hey, I came to demolish injera not to make friends! Will happily return.

It's been a while since I had Ethiopian, not to mention I've eaten at both DC and Balto locations of Dukem long ago, but last minute plans landed me at Dukem in DC, and I was extremely satisfied with the food and service. Nice vibe inside, food came out quickly, seasoned perfectly, and was absolutely delicious. Ordered the veggie combo #3 of spicy split lentils, yellow peas, greens, cabbage, shiro, tomato salad, and chick peas in spicy sauce...plus lentil sambas. For 2, it was plenty of food, which we devoured. Will definitely return to Dukem, be it their DC or Balto location.

So disappointed. My Doro wot was made with chopped chicken breast instead of whole chicken parts. Serving was small for over 70 dollars.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, and it was such a tasty and fun experience. The ladies who took our orders/served us were super understanding, explained the different menu options, and gave great suggestions as to what to order. I had one of the combo samplers, and it was delicious; I loved the sour notes of the veggies. You definitely get what you pay for; it's on the pricier side, but I had plenty of leftovers. It's also a tiny bit cramped; I wouldn't come here with a large group. But I would definitely come back here if I have a craving for Ethiopian food again.

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the city! The injera is fresh & flavorful, the beef tibs & kitfo are perfectly cooked & superbly spiced. In our family we love spicy food & this place never disappoints. My most recent meal from there was a delivery, but I can save from having been to the restaurant multiple times that the service there is very nice and the staff is very kind. The look of the restaurant is also quite lovely and welcoming. So if you're looking for good, Ethiopian in Baltimore city definitely go here it's a 10 out of 10 for me.

This place continues to be a hit or miss!!!! I guess I went too early because they served left overs from the previous day!!!! My order came way too fast. The fish was cold!!!! That indicated to me that the fish was from the previous day. Instead of giving me a fresh piece of fish, they just reheated it!!!!! The fish was hard and rubbery!! DISGUSTING!!!!! The yellow peas were scorched as if they had been scraped from the bottom of the pot!!!! DO BETTER DUKEM!!!!!!

Food was terrific and the service was great. Small but quaint. There's a wall-mounted TV on the first floor showing music videos from Ethiopia, which was fun.

Awesome food - best Ethiopian in Baltimore!! The 23 Dukem combo (4) is my favorite (esp the veggie dishes) and more than enough for 2 people. Veggie sambusas are also bangin

Service& food is always in point! Appearance, & texture were great. flavorful, 10 of 10! Quick service & very trustworthy

I don't know what is going on but I ordered a pick up and for the money I spent, the food was dry, the meats were cut thin and small. They used small cut dry chicken tenders for the Doro Wot. The portions were ridiculously small. It looked like they took someone's leftover injera and just smashed it on top of the food in the small ass container the food was thrown in. I will not be ordering here again. It used to be my favorite but what I got was a joke. I am more than disappointed with how my order was for the money spent, I was disgusted with the presentation of my meal.

I finally got a chance to try Ethiopian food for the first time, and it will definitely not be my last. Dukem gave me the opportunity to try a new culture of food on a whim. With a broad menu, which I was very inquisitive about, since many of the items I was unsure of what they were, I opted for the Dukem Special Beef Tibs. And it definitely pleased my palate. Seasoned tender chunks of beef cooked with peppers and onions. Delish! And the tomato salad which accompanied the dish was amazing. I could literally have eaten that alone. Broaden your horizons and give Dukem a try.

The food is delicious, but the customer service is VERY poor. I paid with cash the last time I went there, and the waitress said she did not have change, that she would deduct the amount from my bill the next time. I go there at least once a month. They know me. When I went the next time, they would not deduct the FULL amount of my change owed to me from my previous bill. They only deducted 25 cents. That was sheisty to me. If I was in that situation again, I would pay LESS than my bill, and let them know I will bring THEM the difference on my next visit. OR, they can just take my food back, and throw it away.

Wow oh wow!!! Food was absolutely outstanding. I was showing the person who I took to this restaurant Ethiopian food for the first time. We really enjoyed our experience. The food was great. The atmosphere was good they even were playing music videos from other countries on the TV, which was interesting to watch as well, the service was just OK. Had to wait longer than 15 minutes just to get the waitress to come over to the table which is surprising due to the restaurant being so small but they were busy so I understand. We weren't given any drink menus, which was odd due to the fact that they had a full bar. What I ordered was the unity family I believe ordering that dish enables everyone at the table to try different foods as well as have more than enough for two people ended up accompanying the food with some honey wine. That was my first time trying, honey wine, and it was amazing. Sweet with the taste of Honey And after bite of the alcohol. I only gave them four stars, due to the fact that it was super small and excessively hot in there. In addition to the fact that our service was not the best. Our waitress with come to our table, and then we wouldn't see her for 20+ minutes.

The Dukem-Baltimore felt like home this afternoon. Their staff, Amsale, is welcoming and providing service with thought and consideration that made the food that more delicious! Their menu was well thought out, offering food options from cubed beef to vegetarian options that all made my mouth salivate. After looking over the menu, I decided on the Regular Tibs. I chose the cubed tender beef with onion, rosemary jalapeno, pepper served with Injera, and a salad and spicy awazie sauce!! It's as good as it sounds. Every bite is rich in flavor and ample food for two people. Their bar is well stocked for even the most discerning palate. So lastly, I indulged in glasses of water with wedged lemons were satisfying during such a warm day like today. I'll be back to enjoy this culinary delight.

Food never disappoints here! Service is quick and kind. Ambiance isn't great. It's a little out dated and needs to be remodeled but the food makes me keep coming back. Would recommend!

Great food! Appears to be small once you walk in but in the summer the upstairs is open and you can sit on the rooftop. It's a good corner location. The beef tips and sambusa were great! If you've never had a sambusa before, think of a samosa but Ethiopian. I had the veggie, which mostly consisted of well seasoned lentils. You know if you do a little dance once you eat it, it's good! I haven't had Ethiopian food in a while so this was a great reminder.

I have been to the DC location several time and absolutely love the food their. When I heard they have a Baltimore restaurant I knew I had to check it out. I ordered the regular Beef Tibs and Sambusa on Uber eats. The Sambusa was a bit greasy but still tasty. The beef tibs were good but I've had better at the DC restaurant. Not sure if the taste was off because I had to reheat the food but I will be giving this restaurant a second try. Next time I will go in person.

We hadn't been to the Dukem in Baltimore but we were really in the mood for some ethiopian food and didn't feel like going into DC. We walked in and picked our seats. There was a jar of hand sanitizer at the table so that was nice. Me and my boyfriend got a combo platter to share and it came with meat options for me and plenty of veggies for my bf. Everything tasted great especially the lentils and the beef tibs. Plenry of injera for us both. I'd recommend Dukem

This restaurant is OG..the flavors of the meat and vegeteranian dishes do not disappoint. We have dined in the restaurant and ordered take out. We took off few points because whenever we order take out, the restaurant reduces the amount of food despite paying the same price as dining in. We still love the food so here's hoping the owners read the reviews so they can stop these scammy ways.

Pretty average Ethiopian place in the region. Some of the meat dishes are very dry, however the vegan selections are very good. The spicy dishes are not at all spicy, maybe tones down for the local taste? The injera is a bit bland and needed to be fermented just a bit longer. Service is friendly and just enough without being overly attentive or neglecting.

I picked up Dukem for lunch a week or so ago. It's near enough to walk from work, so I ordered pickup from GrubHub, and it was ready about 20 minutes later. I love Ethiopian food, so I wanted to try everything on the menu. But on this first visit I chose Key Wot with cabbage and spicy lentils. Everything was delicious. And it was packaged great to go: plenty of injera! Everything I ate on this first visit was great - so I see myself walking over to pick up lunch often in the future!

Absolutely love their food. Some of the best Ethiopian cuisine that I've had in a while. The shop itself it unassuming and easy to miss bit once you step inside be prepared to be hit with mouth watering aromas.

Dukem is a classic! Always delicious. Great music! Usually quick service. Reasonable prices, --there are less expensive Ethiopian/Eritrean places in town, but with less predictable results on the previous three categories. I Dukem!

Either the restaurant or delivery driver (leaning towards the delivery driver) took bites off the food before it arrived. I am horrified. I ordered the food after having unbelievable cravings for Ethiopian food.

I hate to leave a bad review and I will try to order again, as it could just be an anomaly & let's face it Ethiopian is limited in Baltimore. The food I ordered for delivery was indigestible. My sister surprised me with tibs (ribeye) and 2 sides (lentils, chickpea stew). I love my injera and try to incorporate it into my diet but because of covid have been glutinous with Western food. Unfortunately, tibs was not rib-eye but sloppy chunks of the worst flank of cheap/factory cow. I hate wasting food (as an orthodox Christian, it's reproachable to waste death of an animal) so I tried my hardest to chew each piece of meat but I just could not. I then moved on to the lentils, the most basic and classical, Ethiopian dish- it was stale and frankly made from a Dijon like base (on what planet??). My sisters jaw dropped to the floor- it was shamefully bad. My sister's disbelief stemmed from her previous pleasant experiences frequenting Dukem. Clearly this was an anomaly so I called Dukem and expressed to the lady on the line that we would like a new order because this was a bad batch and respectfully described the taste of each dish. Lady was disinterested and told me to contact grubhub. It was flippant. I would not recommend.

Have visited Dukem a few times and finally getting to a review. We usually order takeout and haven't dined in yet. The sister location is in DC & as far as I know they are the only Ethiopian restaurant in the Baltimore area. We've ordered a few items and this time we got the Kitfo & Kwanta Firfir. Kitfo was seasoned perfectly and passed the test of a very picky Kitfo Conossieur. Kwanta Firfir was also excellent with the right ratio of meat to sauce. Ethiopian cuisine is having a moment & it's great to see as there is something for everyone. They have a bar area and a dining area with two levels. The ladies behind the counter are always friendly & service minded.

Fantastic atmosphere, and great food. It was well priced and the perfect portion size. One thing I didn't enjoy was the bottled water being $2 but I'll definitely go again

Dukem has been one of the few Ethiopian restaurants to stay open during the pandemic and keep offering delivery and take out and I have been really thankful for them! While the food is a little more expensive than some other places I have been to, it is really tasty! My favorite thing to get is the deluxe special veggie platter which is a huge tray of delicious vegetarian dishes - I think it comes with 12 different things (exciting and veggie friendly!). The variety of flavors is amazing, and I love eating with the injera, the spongy thin sourdough that is served with the meal. I like to pick up directly from the restaurant so that it is hot, and then taking it home for our feast! Usually there are some leftovers, but not every time ;) Thankfully the food is just as good cold later as when you first get it. I have had to wait a few minutes before when arriving at the restaurant for pickup because there is not always someone at the front desk or they are busy, but they will get to you soon if not immediately. Thanks Dukem! I know I will order again when I next need my Ethiopian food fix.

Absolutely delicious food, friendly service, and they are open late! It's a great spot for a late dinner after a show at the hippodrome or the BSO. I always get a 7-item veggie combo and a meat dish for two people. Try the special tibs if you aren't sure what to get!

Have been here twice in the past and recently ordered delivery during COVID times. It's a fantastic option for trying a new type of cuisine and the combo platters are perfect for sharing a meal with friends, roommates, whoever during these times. The combo platters are my go to for this reason and you can have a variety of veggies and meat. I don't have any comparison for Ethiopian food but I have always enjoyed my food from Dukem. Delivery took about 45 minutes, and I wouldn't say the food was hot when it came, but rather, warm. I remember the honey wine here is good here too!

If you are used to eating the Ethiopian food in DC, you will be disappointed with this place. The flavors weren't really there for me. However, I think it is a good introduction to Ethiopian food if you haven't had it before. It isn't bad, but when you have had better you can tell the difference.

I visit Dukem nearly every time I'm in Baltimore and it never disappoints. Fabulous food in generous portions, friendly service, great Baltimore vibe. On our last visit we ordered the house special tibs, doro wat, gored gored, and a mixed veggie plate of lentils, chickpeas, cabbage, collards, and salad--all spectacular. I wish they'd open a restaurant in North Carolina; I would be a regular.

I once called to order takeout from Dukem and asked for clarification on some of the menu items. The employee on the phone told me she would be right back and hung up--when I called back she said she didn't have time to answer my questions :') Cries Docking several points for the service (also waited 20 minutes beyond when my food was estimated to be ready), the food is pretty tasty. I like the lentil sambusa as a starter, and usually go for a combination sampler to split between a group.

Please try to improve taste in Baltimore. Tasted plain. Once upon a time food was tasty.

It's been a minute since I've had Ethiopian food. I love it but the Baltimore location are a bit of a drive. I ventured out and decide to try Dukes. I called in my order on a Saturday evening and it was ready for pickup 20 minutes later. The food was really good, better than I remember from the DC location. The injera was delicious and the flavors of the mesic wat, gomen and dal were amazing. I had leftovers for lunch the next day. Soooo good!!!!

Excellent food with bad service. Walked in to find no host or clear direction of where to go. Once the person behind the bar saw us, she tried to seat us at a tiny table by the door. I asked if we could sit someone not so close to the door, since it was cold out. She huffed, looking like we totally inconvenience her--then sat us at a booth. We ordered two mains and an appetizer. We never got the appetizer. Food took a long time to come out. Overall the server was unpleasant. The service here is lacking. Come for the delicious food, but don't expect anyone to be nice.

I was a little worried about the reviews here but soooo glad I came. Anyone who knows me knows I heart Ethiopian food. It's something very dear to me so it was natural that I kinda planted this food outing into my bf's head (Inception-style) when I came to visit. I wouldn't say it's the best Ethiopian food I've had, but it was really satisfying and definitely deserving of a trip even if you're in the middle about coming here. The injera was a little cold and some of the dishes weren't as spicy as I would have liked them. Other than that, I can see myself dining here quite often. We ordered the Dukem Combo and it was more than enough food for 2 people. And for $30, it's also probably one of the cheapest combo platters I've seen at an Ethiopian restaurant. Service was great. I'm really surprised how slow it was when we came. This place definitely deserves to be busier.

My first time trying Ethiopian cuisine and I had an amazing time. Had the #36 Veggie Combination Plate

I've been here maybe 7 or so times but last time I found a hair in my food and that was it. It's close to my partner's place for a "dang, I ran outta food moment," but not really recommended for regular hair-free hygienic food.

So, all these years in bmore i have never visited Dukem, well because i almost always go to Tabor. Decided to switch it up, because unlike Tabor, they do answer their phones. The spice level was not to my specifications, but i can overlook that. Their awaze (lamb) tibs was amazing, wish i had more wherever they source their lamb from just perfect. I ordered the Gori gori its a rib meal (beef rib dish). meat was tough but dish was flavorful. Will keep them in rotation.