Elfegne
Ethiopian restaurant · Adams Morgan
2420 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Highlights
Flavorful Ethiopian cuisine with lamb, beef, & veggie dishes
Flavorful Ethiopian cuisine with lamb, beef, & veggie dishes
"Located in the Adams Morgan space that formerly housed Zenebech, family-owned Elfegne is drawing lots of attention from locals and the Michelin Guide alike. Named after royal dining halls, the sleek restaurant framed in vibrant art, booths, and a lengthy bar puts modern twists on traditional dishes. Must-try orders include the lentils sambusa starter and awaze tibs cooked in a mouthwatering chile-pepper sauce." - Tierney Plumb
"In the mouth-watering Ethiopian food hub that is Adams Morgan, Elfegne takes the top spot. The sambusas—filled with a brilliant ratio of black peppers, onions, jalapeños, herbs, and lentils—are dangerously difficult to stop snacking on. Tibs take center stage here, so meat lovers might struggle to narrow it down. We suggest the deliciously savory doro tibs, spicy boneless chicken served in a soul-soothing chili pepper sauce, topped with a hard-boiled egg and spiced butter. And if you could use a post-meal pep-in-your-step, order a pot of Ethiopian coffee." - omnia saed, mekita rivas
"In the mouth-watering Ethiopian food hub that is Adams Morgan, Elfegne takes the top spot. The sambusas—filled with a brilliant ratio of black peppers, onions, jalapeños, herbs, and lentils—are dangerously difficult to stop snacking on. Tibs take center stage here, so meat lovers might struggle to narrow it down. We suggest the deliciously savory doro tibs, spicy boneless chicken served in a soul-soothing chili pepper sauce, topped with a hard-boiled egg and spiced butter. And if you could use a post-meal pep-in-your-step, order a pot of Ethiopian coffee." - Mekita Rivas
"This is the new chapter for D.C. Ethiopian mainstay Zenebech; the makeover is a nod to the area where kings and queens were served throughout the country’s history, and the menu has received some updates as well. Combination platters here are great for sharing with groups." - Missy Frederick
"Opened in 2022 in the former Zenebech space, this Adams Morgan spot draws cooks who worked at the celebrated predecessor and prepares a customer-driven version of doro wat using chicken breasts; each batch is cooked with at least 100 pounds of onions, yielding notable body and sweetness. Guests can also sit for a traditional coffee ceremony and enjoy the inviting dining room." - ByLenore T. Adkins
