Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant
Ethiopian restaurant · U Street ·
Sambusa, doro wat, kitfo, and honey wine served late
Sambusa, doro wat, kitfo, and honey wine served late
"I learned that Dukem, which opened as a carryout joint on U Street in 1997, is a local institution in D.C. where diners can experience injera paired with doro wat, and it remains a bustling place to try classic Ethiopian dishes." - Nicholas DeRenzo
"Ethiopian restaurants lend themselves to group dining with large sampler platters of vegetables, grilled meats, and stews served over injera. This U Street classic in D.C.’s Little Ethiopia corner is welcoming to large parties, is open late, and is a good option for a last-minute meal without a reservation." - Missy Frederick
"A long-standing U Street favorite that recently experienced a renaissance after social-media attention, this place serves a boldly spiced doro wat made with chicken breasts cut into chunks and enrobed in a berbere red-pepper sauce that can make your lips tingle. The stew shares the spotlight with a tangy tomato salad (marketed as the house tomato salad), and diners often eat while watching Ethiopian music videos on large screens." - ByLenore T. Adkins
"I broke my takeout-only habit and ate inside with my family, and the food absolutely won us over — the short ribs scored a 9/10, vegetable sambusas a 7, kitfo a 7, and the berbere-spiced awaze sauce delivered earthy, robust flavors; I even said it was the best food we’d had in D.C. so far. My family left generous tips ($500 for each sister) and $1,000 to feed future customers, and I warned it might get crazy after my review; they did run out of injera and had to close until noon the next day." - Emily Venezky
"Dukem is one of DC’s most recognizable Ethiopian restaurants in the city. It’s been around since 1997 and is an important part of the culture on U St and in DC at large. On the weekends, this place is bumping with folks from all parts of the city. You’ll find youths pregaming and uncles and aunties drinking Amber beer—in other words, locals that have come to Dukem for as long as it's been open. The food is good though the portion sizes have slimmed down over the years, and their injera, which they also sell in a storefront next door, is fantastic when made and served." - omnia saed
