Family Ethiopian Restaurant
Ethiopian restaurant · Shaw
1414 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Highlights
Family-style veggie, meat & fish plates, plus Ethiopian beer
Family-style veggie, meat & fish plates, plus Ethiopian beer
"Situated in Shaw’s competitive Little Ethiopia corridor, this sibling-owned spot beat all odds with a pandemic-era opening. Four years in, Family Ethiopian has a amassed a loyal following for its best-selling shiro wot (finely ground roasted chickpeas simmered in onions, garlic, tomatoes, spices, and green peppers) and quanta firfir (dried beef blasted with berebere and purified butter). Vegetarian fans are all about its tikil gomen with cabbage and potatoes and gomen (collard greens with fresh garlic and onions). The brick-framed dining room, dressed in bright yellow chairs and colorful art, is a great place to sit and stay. Delivery is available, too." - Tierney Plumb
"If you’re looking for a place to grab a chill lunch, Family Ethiopian is your spot. It’s bustling at dinnertime, but the crowds are smaller and the restaurant calmer during lunch hours, which makes it the perfect place to dine solo or catch up with friends while Ethiopian music plays in the background and sunlight wafts through the windows that span the length of the front wall. Have a seat in the bright yellow chairs and admire the traditional and handcrafted art while you wait for your food, which is fantastic. Be sure to get the catfish tibs, seasoned with onion and garlic, and the deluxe veggie platter with impressive portions—the largest we’ve seen at Ethiopian restaurants in the city." - omnia saed
"This bright and trendy sibling-owned spot is made with love—and it clearly shows. Enter to find a smattering of yellow metal chairs, walls vibrant with art and a kitchen teeming with a focused brigade—serious women chefs preparing complex Ethiopian fare, with nostalgia at the forefront.The family platter, with both vegetarian and meat dishes, is an excellent way to sample the variety. That beloved sour and spongy injera is ideal for sopping up the likes of gomen (collard greens with fresh garlic and onions) or kik alicha (a stew of yellow split peas with turmeric and ginger). Tikil gomen with cabbage and potatoes is an herbivore's dream; while quanta firfir, deliciously tender beef imbued with berbere and purified butter, has carnivores coming in droves." - Michelin Inspector
"Family doesn’t take reservations, but the two-story Ethiopian restaurant in Shaw easily accommodates large groups and will often seat you right away. The family-owned restaurant is eclectically decorated with bright yellow chairs that match the sunlight pouring through the windows overlooking 9th St. The food here is fantastic. The restaurant opened in 2020 and has made a name for itself as one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the city, thanks in large part to huge portions (the biggest we’ve seen in the city) and seismic flavors. The succulent beef tibs, for example, are marinated with onions and peppers and the fresh, pillowy injera complements every dish." - omnia saed
"If you’re looking for a place to grab a chill lunch, Family Ethiopian is your spot. It’s bustling at dinnertime, but the crowds are smaller and the restaurant calmer during lunch hours, which makes it the perfect place to dine solo or catch up with friends while Ethiopian music plays in the background and sunlight wafts through the windows that span the length of the front wall. Have a seat in the bright yellow chairs and admire the traditional and handcrafted art while you wait for your food, which is fantastic. Be sure to get the catfish tibs, seasoned with onion and garlic, and the deluxe veggie platter with impressive portions—the largest we’ve seen at Ethiopian restaurants in the city." - omnia saed
