Elilta Restaurant

I’ve had almost everything on the menu so you can trust when I say the food is amazing. My usual order is the kitfo special. I prefer the raw preparation; it is rich, spicy and always fresh ground (which makes a huge difference in texture and quality). When I go with family, we dine-in and usually get a few different meats with a veggie platter. Everything is arranged beautifully on the same plate family style. The yellow peas and greens are my favorite. You can also have coffee served ceremony style in a jebena. Everything is always fresh, well seasoned and piping hot. The kitchen is open and you can see the owner prepare everything to order. The portions are great for the price and I always leave full without feeling weighed down. The owner is a lovely woman from Eritrea, so her recipes differ slightly from the sea of other Ethiopian restaurants in Silver Spring. She is so warm and hospitable, I look forward to coming back every time. This restaurant is quiet, very clean, and there is a parking lot around the side next to the Shell.

The service is the best service I have experienced in all restaurants in all DC-MD-VA. The food was great. The owner is a sweet woman. She served excellent and way above and beyond. The food I have is the one in my pic. Excellent. I will most likely return.

Y'all I wanna gate keep but the owner is too nice. The place is a little hard to get to and it's owned and operated by just one lady. So the vibe is exactly right. You know this food is about to be good. I'm tall and and skinny and when I go out to eat I'm going to Chow down. And this was enough food that even I have to take some home. The awaze tibs is just spicy enough to clear your sinuses. Perfect food for a cold day

The delicious food, the sublime after lunch Ethiopian coffee, the attentive service - all were wonderful. Our 11-year-old granddaughter declared it the best meal she’d ever eaten.

Food is delicious! Hospitality is amazing and friendly! Definitely coming back soon.

We are too lucky to have such a fantastic restaurant in our community. Every time I arrive I’m greeted with so much hospitality and love. I’m happy to support a cozy local business and plus the food is amazing! I can’t wait to come back again and again.

This place is so good that I could lick the plate every time if I weren’t so full. Definitely recommend the Fish Goulash and Kitfo. The Ethiopian coffee too is a very nice experience. I took my sister here who never had Ethiopian/ Eritrean cuisine before and it bellowed her mind. It’s a real hidden gem!

I had injera firfir and Ethiopian fresh coffee. Everything was very great, delicious, fresh, and full of authentic flavor. Highly recommend.

Hole in the wall. Hidden gem. Low key best Ethiopian food around. It's a treat to have them in the Four Corners neighborhood and their food is excellent. I won't even recommend a specific dish; just order what you want and it will probably be good. As others have said the owners is also super sweet. Parking doesn't look great, but you can street park around back. Don't sleep on this place.

Amazing Eritrean host, waitress and chef serves up delicious, fragrant Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine in an unassuming environment with Ethiopian music and decor. We enjoyed the Derek tibs (crispy beef sautéed in onions, tomatoes and jalapeño peppers with the vegetable platter (pictured). They also serve Ethiopian sandwiches and pasta. I had to write this review to include the menu for take out. Definitely returning.

My rating = 72 (Food 57/75, Service 12/15 Ambiance 3/10). Good family-run Eritrean restaurant and bakery with a few small tables in an unassuming spot in Four Corners. We had awaze tibs and veggie combo (cabbage, collard greens, red lentils, yellow lentils, peas). Friendly hosts. Casual setting.

Delicious veggie platter for $14. I can't believe they're able to make a pile of lentils, potatoes, and beets taste so dang good lol. Service is great, one time they ran out of beets and the lady whipped up a delicious chick pea alternative instead! Another time I called right when they opened and no one picked up. Turns out they were running late to open but the lady was thorough in calling me back to make sure I got my order in. They really care about the business and their customers. I usually order takeout, takes 15 mins to be ready. Parking is next to the 4 corners Pub or street parking near the pub. 10/10 highly recommend!

Food was absolutely delicious! Service was excellent. Such a down to earth feel and such a wonderful experience!! Anytime we are back in this area we will return. Highly recommend!!! Awaze tibs was phenomenal.

Feels like a home cooked meal. Very friendly and attentive in terms of the behind the counter staff. This is a great food served by friendly people.

Food was prepared according to dietary restrictions thus it was freshly made,seasoned to Perfection and served with love. Customer service was extremely friendly. We will be returning.

Best most accommodating owner you've ever met. Just talk with her and she'll do anything to make you comfortable and happy with your experience!!! Vegan and gluten free available. Special breakfast and coffee plus all the traditional Ethiopian delicacies. Gomen!!! Yay

First time trying Ethiopian food a few days ago and it was so good! My favorite was the doro wat. Don't forget the coffee, it's the perfect post meal drink.

Went there twice and found a note on the door stating it was closed and will open the next day. What a waste of time.

Elilta restaurant is a pleasant place to dine in, alone or with friends. Almaz cooks all the food by herself making sure every dish is special. The service is great and very friendly. I definitely recommend this place to everone who wants to experience Eritrean/Ethiopian food. Parking is in the back of the building.

Elilta is a solid choice for Ethiopian food, and the owner is a total sweetheart! One of the best spots in the neighborhood for dinner or take out.

My husband said "this is my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant." For me, it was a 6/5 The owner gave us such great service and you could taste the love in her food. We ordered the fish goulash & the 6 vegetarian combo. The fish was crispy & tender & a perfect bite with enjera & beets. The lentils were my favorite, so much flavor in the sauce. The food came out steaming & was so beautiful. Also she makes the best coffee. Restaurant is small & there is limited parking -- best for 2-4 people.

OMG, the food was amazing! The ambiance is nothing much. The owner was extremely friendly. And the food was just extraordinary!

Everything was great, especially loved the veggie platter and key wat, The owner was exceptionally nice and made us feel welcome. Small dining room but it' didn't feel cramped. Our daughter just moved to Silver Spring and said she will be back often, and we will definitely return when we're visiting.

Wow! Really, really good food. Four of us split a veggie combo and two meats. Amazing food and service. Definitely will be back

Amazing food! Some of the best food I have ever had. Owner is so very sweet and welcoming. A great place to bring out of town vistors. 10 out of 10.

Elilta is a neighborhood gem in 4 Corners! The food is amazing and the owner & chef is a charming, lovely woman. 3 of us split the 6-veg vegetarian platter for two (at the owner's recommendation) and itcwascsome of the most delicious Ethiopian / Eritrean food any of us have ever had. Every veg was delicious, but the special chickpea dish, a light brown mash made from chicpea powder & spices, mounded in the center of the injera, was the fastest to disappear. We also enjoyed the moderately spicy lentil samosas. We are coming back!

Such a cute family-owned restaurant. The owner was very kind and friendly. Food tasted homemade and very delicious. I will definitely go back.

The food was good I really really recommend the Derek ribs it was sooo good bro they were nice and I loved everything about this place it's so underrated

Great service and great food, food was super flavorful and people were so kind and nice, Highly recommend!!! Everything was phenomenal!!!

I now know why people I know were saying this place is so good. The food is outstanding. It is now among my favorite Ethiopian restaurants among such a large number in silver spring. I had the vegetarian combo with 4 dishes. Super fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked and spiced, and beautiful presented on a very large plate. The woman waiting on me couldn't be friendlier. I also spent some time just hanging out absorbing the sweet Ethiopian music and vibes and did some work on my computer using the wifi.

Our group of 3 had lunch on a Saturday. I'll keep it brief: this is the best Ethiopian food we've ever had! Subtle and tasty meat and vegetable dishes, beyond the ordinary. The server was kindly and brought as many injera refills as we needed. If you like Ethiopian, it's worth a drive.

Elilta is home to great food, great service, and a great casual atmosphere. Great for lunch, dinner, or takeout. This has been our go-to place for Ethiopian food for years. Never disappoints. Great food with a smile. Love this place.

Amazing food and amazing service! It was the perfect amount of spicy. We had the Spicy chicken and veggie combo, should have taken a photo. Thanks again

So far my best Ethiopian meal in silver spring. Nice decor friendly service. Food cooker and seasoned great.

I've been jonesing for my newest addiction, Ethiopian food, so we came here for dinner. Fortunately, we didn't have any trouble getting parking - I guess it isn't a "Mother's Day" destination, but other folks were missing out on a treat. Normally this lot is a bit tricky. We were the only ones dining in so we got lots of special attention from the owner who is a super sweet lady. She brought us lentil samosa/sambusas on the house - they were really good. We actually had considered ordering but hubby wasn't super hungry. We made room. We'll definitely order them next time. We ordered a keywat bemitad and veggie combo to share. Elilta gets our new award for having spicy food that is actually spicy not MD spicy. The keywat bemitad and the lentils on the veggie combo both had some kick (especially the keywat bemitad). Those two were our favorites. The others on the veggie sampler were good too. In order of preference after the lentils I'd rank the cabbage, beets, collard greens and split peas. Keywat bemitad's curry was very similar to the doro wat curry from another place we've been, but with beef instead of chicken. I suspect their doro bemitad is equivalent to doro wat then. It comes with a light crumbly cheese that really complements the spicy flavors well. The meal came with what I consider just the right amount of injera. Some places give you so much you have a ton left after eating everything. We actually only got through half the food (took the other half home) and still had a few strips of it left plus of course the "tablecloth" which soaks up the yummy sauce. If you eat a ton of injera you might want to order extra but I thought it was just right as someone who tries not to load up on bread. The prices were extremely reasonable. Before we ordered, the owner warned us that the real prices were all a dollar or two higher than printed, as she hasn't had them reprinted yet since costs went up. Even with that in mind I think they were on par or cheaper than other area restaurants. So many of the other dishes sounded good, we'll have to try them on future visits. I tend to like tibs a lot so hoping to sample hers soon. Another review said portions were small. I disagree. If hubs and I only got through half of two entrees, (admittedly with a samosa) they're pretty good size. If I were eating alone and ordered one entree, I think I would have only eaten half in one meal. Maybe if you don't eat any injera the portions would seem small, but veggies and legumes are quite filling. There were about 6-8 tables of 2-4 seats each. It's not a huge place but absolutely fine for dining in, but I think they do mostly takeout still. I'm glad she was able to weather the COVID storm and definitely plan to go back soon!

Amazing little hole in the wall with great food that's a step up from most Ethiopian restaurants. Seems homemade with care and attention to the spicing of the food. Lovely owner and service. Can't wait to come back.

Amazing! Service, food, ambiance. All amazing! Best Ethiopian food I have ever had hands down. We are already planning our return!

The food speaks for itself - delicious vegetarian platters (yetsom beyaynetu) and fantastic prices for authentic Ethiopian cuisine My brother's review, "good food" Note: limited restaurant parking available

I've been to many Ethiopian spots in the area but was excited and curious when a new one popped up right in my neighborhood. I ordered from them a couple times (the veggie platter) and the food was just decent - nothing exceptional and the portions were smaller than most places I've been to. This is pretty much a carryout place only. There's a couple or so tables if I recall right. What turned me off most was when I stopped in to inquire if I could buy injera which they clearly had available. The lady at the counter was very hesitant, implying they were selling just to Ethiopians. This was near the earlier stages of the pandemic when there was a lot of grocery shopping and flour shortages. It rubbed me the wrong way that she did not want to sell to me based on my race. I cook my own Ethiopian veggie dishes from time to time and buy injera when I do.

Fantastic restaurant. Wider selection than most Ethiopian places. Food was amazing. Prompt, kind service.

Humongous portions! We're so glad fellow Yelpers led us to this gem in Silver Spring. The menu was diverse, service was great, and the food was delicious. The split peas were the best I've ever had.

more than a year later and I got to go back and have an actual meal! they close at 9 and I got there at 8:15 but the owner/chef/server (she's an all in one ) still made us food. I got the awaze tibs (beef) with gomen and a little bit of the cheese (can't remember the name) and it was sooo good. This is a portion for one and it's very filling and satisfying. The perfect balance of spice and seasoning which makes for a perfect meal. The owner is so sweet and accommodating to special requests. I will def come back and a bit earlier so that I can take my time to sit and enjoy my food.

Very good you order and receive your food very fast also it's very quiet and peaceful I would 100% recommend this place

Delicious food every time. We love the vegetarian combo. The owner makes it a point to interact with all customers, is very kind, friendly and has a great sense of humor.She works very hard. She is always welcoming and knows our name. We generally get carry out since we live nearby. I highly recommend this family-owned business.

We were looking for a neighborhood restaurant, and found this place! We dined in, and it was SO GOOD!! We got 4 veggie combo, and two different types of tibs. We especially loved the Derek tibs!! Highly recommend this restaurant, and the server (maybe owner?) was super nice.

The food was delicious, and the service was incredible. The portions were also generous and the ambiance was perfect. I'll be making this a routine stop for lunch while in Silver Spring, the best Eritrean food.

The food is just delicious with a genuine Ethiopian ingredients. I have not had such food outside Eritrea. The place I clean a nice and the service is unique. I truly loved this place. Thank you very much Almaz you made our day. I will definitely come back.

Wow!!! This place is amazing! I've had Ethiopian food before but Elilta's is next level!! Almaz's (the cook and server) hands are blessed. Elilta's is welcoming and the customer service is outstanding! My sister and I came to dine in after being treated by my darling Auntie to the Fish Goulash, easily more flavorful than the top Ethiopian restaurants in DC. We also ordered Awaze and Lamb tibs and both were full of flavor and the spices were perfect! It's a must have experience! Go, you will not be disappointed. It's a gem!!

Amazing restaurant! Not only was the atmosphere charming and neat, but the owner was beyond kind and welcoming. If you're in the area, definitely give the place a visit! The food is terrific!

So easy to drive past this place- THE definition of a Hidden GEM! I went in bc I read the positive reviews about both the food & amazing owner on google & yelp, to see for myself. The owner is an extremely sweet lady, very involved in everything from serving to even cooking. The restaurant itself is clean, with comfortable seating. Different options for chairs. A smaller, intimate restaurant that feels very traditional. The quality of the food can't be beat, 10/10 for the taste and service. Feels like you're in the owner's home. If you're looking for an authentic experience & genuinely good quality Eritrean food this is where you HAVE to go. You won't regret it Thank you Almaz!!

We've been looking for a good Ethiopian restaurant for a while now. We found Elilta on reddit and were skeptical to try another average spot, but this place is truly the best we've had since moving to Silver Spring. Every time the food comes fresh (with steam coming off) and well seasoned. Not to mention the owner who doubles as a server has the best attitude and charm. We go out of our way to visit Elilta because it's just that good.

Been craving Ethiopian food and none where I live. Found this place and was not disappointed. The woman who made the food (can't remember her name but she said it means "Diamond") was so sweet and an amazing chef. We had samosas and then she chose several dishes for us. They were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend and I'll be back next time I visit!

Continuing the alphabet series, E is for Elilta: Tried this place on Thursday, May 7, 2020 with my g/f (now ex). It was coming back after only the second work travel since quarantine. She lived with me as she had moved in to my studio apartment in 2019. During the pandemic, she & I were both working from home, and she wanted to be with me during my work travel. After coming back from Baltimore County for work travel and a short hike, we ended up trying this place. They were friendly and answered questions, but didn't have something we wanted on their menu. The food was very good and a unique cuisine that I hadn't had in a few years, and I'm not sure if my g/f had ever tried Ethiopian before. I know that was the only time we got it, but it's a place I would go back. I've moved now to the Laurel area, but if I'm near 4 corners, I'd go back.

The food at Elilta was absolutely delicious and worth it. I got a veggie platter with 4 items for only 12.99 and it left me full with leftovers for the next day. I also had their lentil samosa which was amazing ! The hostess/ waitress Almas was so kind, pleasant and fun to talk to. The seats are also incredibly comfy. This a homey restaurant and I saw many people come in for carry out! Truly a hidden gem you must try in the white oak area.

Food was the absolute best and so was the service!! Would recommend the Key wat beef and the veggie platter. Will definitely be back!

Get the kornis and thank me later. *chefs kiss* I've had it twice and it doesn't disappoint. Love this place because it's authentic and the food tastes homemade. Mama Almaz doesn't skimp on flavor. So glad to have found this hidden gem.

Great food and very friendly service. This is a hidden gem. The owner does it all and clearly enjoys it!