Shagga Coffee & Restaurant

This was the first Ethiopian restaurant I tried after coming to the U.S. years ago, just days after I arrived. I still come back every now and then because it brings back memories of my early days and feels very nostalgic. The atmosphere is different from most Ethio-Eritrean spots, with a crowd that’s usually not primarily Habesha. The food flavor and portions aren’t standout, especially compared to the many options in the DMV area, but I still stop by because of the sentimental value it holds for me.

Absolutely loved my experience at Shagga Ethiopian Cuisine! From the moment I walked in, the customer service was warm and welcoming…truly some of the friendliest staff around. And the food? Even better! Every dish was packed with authentic, delicious flavors that kept me coming back for more. As someone visiting from Bowie, I can confidently say this place is worth the trip. I’ll definitely be returning soon. I highly recommend giving Shagga a try if you’re craving amazing Ethiopian food in a great atmosphere!

Food was ok, small portion, they give you LOTS of injera bread, which requires the palate some getting used to. Atmosobere was a bit annoying because there was this family w/ kids running all over the restaurant and family did nothing to bring the situation under control. Service was GOOS because I told them I didn’t have a lot of time (I had a flight to catch) and she brought my food quickly. Their Samoas were good.

If you haven’t tried Ethiopian food yet, Shagga Coffee & Restaurant is the perfect place to start. This spot combines delicious flavors with excellent service, all at a very reasonable price. Every dish here feels like it was made with love—think of the comforting taste of a meal crafted by grandma herself. For our entrée, we went with a combo that included three meats and four vegetable sides, giving us a great variety of flavors and textures. Every bite was outstanding, and trust me when I say there won’t be anything left on your plate! If you’re looking to experience authentic Ethiopian cuisine, add Shagga Coffee & Restaurant to your list. You honestly can’t go wrong with any choice on the menu.

Came here unintentionally. When we first saw the restaurant, we were hesitant as the place did not look the best. So glad we tried it. The food was fabulous! Everything was so good. Definitely will be back again soon!

Omg! Try Ethiopian Shiro Wot at this winter time. And Veggie combo dishes!! Amazing! Yummy and tasty!!

It was delicious we'll cooked and seasoned. Amazing service and warm and cozy atmosphere. Injera bread was awesome the whole restaurant was small but hard working. Very welcoming place I highly recommend. And small little candy pieces at the door you can grab when exiting. And helpful, kind, and welcoming service. Thank you Shagga!!!!!!!!!!!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was DELICIOUS! I ordered the Doro Alicha and it was cooked perfectly and seasoned well - not spicy. The other image is the vegetable combo which my mom ordered. The service was also great and nice calm music.

If you're a fan of Ethiopian cuisine, Shagga is a definitely worth visiting. The service is attentive and friendly; the staff are eager to explain dishes and make recommendations if you're new to Ethiopian cuisine. I've been inside to order take-out but have never dined in, although I plan to. Very simple and intimate atmosphere. Their kitfo is the best in the area in my opinion and is my go-to dish. Their combo platters have great portions and nothing I've tried so far has disappointed.

I have been to Shagga a few times. Unfortunately, this restaurant has left me unimpressed the past few times I paid them a visit. The ambiance and the service are average, but the food is why I am dissatisfied. Doro Wot, which is what I got this time around, had neither the boldness nor the brightness and depth of flavor you'd expect from berbere spices. It did not showcase chunks of tender meat (drumsticks, for instance) you'd expect from a Doro Wot. On the contrary, it was a hodgepodge of stringy broken meat with little to no heat and flavor to it. It felt like this meat was scooped up from the bottom of the vat. My companion got the raw Kitfo, which was bland. The vegetable dishes, in addition to their small portion sizes, were also bland.

This review is for takeout. I highly recommend Shagga. We've had issues with our fave restaurants in DC drastically reducing their serving size for the price, and Shagga hasn't done that! Generous portions. Loved the Doro Wat and the veggie sampler! We ordered 2 samplers and the chicken for a dinner party and it was plenty of food.

I've been trying a number of Ethiopian restaurants around lunch time seeking Doro Wat, a dish usually consisting of a chicken leg or two and a hard boiled egg in a sauce full of berbere and other spicy ingredients. I chose lunch time because I wanted to eat the dish alone, as it's tough to share because the chicken is still on the bone and it's hard to divide the meat and egg when injera is your only utensil. Turns out that Shagga uses breast meat for their Doro Wat, something I've never encountered. The chicken was overcooked and dry, a typical problem with white meat, and it wasn't very spicy at all. I aslo ordered a 4-veg combo of Mesir Wot, Gomen, Tikil Gomen, and Timatim (tomato) salad. The Mesir Wot wasn't spicy either and I asked for Awaze paste but it didn't help the lentils or the chicken. Sadly while I noticed the genuine Teff-based injera was available for a $3 charge, it took so long to place my order that I forgot to order that and I was served the regular wheat-based injera. It was oddly thicker than normal and the taste was off even compared to wheat injera at other restaurants. I ate most of everything but not because I liked it, but because of how my mom raised me. My wife always disliked this place and now I see why.

The service was amazing!! The young lady was very nice, I got the combination choice #1, the chicken wot was not as spicy as I imagined or the lentils and I love spicy, the greens were good and the beef tibs were good as well, next time I go back I will make sure they give me extra spicy and more sauce other than that I enjoyed it

Plenty of parking in a decent location off of Route 1. Ordered the Doro Wat (Chicken) and Chicken Tibbs. They have a special with 2 meats and 2 vegetables. Very cost effective and filling. This is my first time getting the tibbs. They were good but I was expecting a little more seasoning. The Doro Wat, Ingera and greens were delicious. The lentil samosa (appetizer) looked delicious so I'll get that next time.

I live in PA and have genuinely considered driving the 3+ hours to this restaurant just for lunch here and then heading home, it is that good. I am vegetarian so I have only had the vegetarian platter and it is phenomenal, definitely one of my favorite meals I've ever eaten. The service and ambience are lovely as well and the food always comes out fairly quickly.

I'm disappointed to write a negative review of Shagga. It has been my favorite Ethiopian restaurant for indulging in a treat, but unfortunately, I've experienced repeated issues with my orders. This isn't the first or second time my order has been incorrect, nor is it the first time I've had to wait over 10 minutes beyond the quoted 30-minute time frame to receive my food. Recently, my disappointment peaked when my favorite menu item was missing from my order upon arriving home. When I called the restaurant to address the mistake, the staff member insisted that I had ordered Lamb Tibs instead of Yegbeg Alicha, despite having my order saved in my notes app. She spoke over me and was rude. She did not offer to replace the missing item tonight or credit me for it, although she did promise a side order of the missing item on my next visit. To top it off, the item she recorded, Lamb Tibs, was not even included in my order; instead, I received double portions of tough Beef Tibs. And the injera was cold.

Ordered take out for the family from them again and, although tasty, I docked a star for 2 reasons: 1. We ordered gluten free injera (paid extra) on 2 dishes and we weren't clear which dishes they were. Luckily gluten is a sensitivity, not allergy, but I couldn't fully enjoy. 2. Each dish comes on injera and one extra piece of injera is laid on top. We definitely needed more (and expected there'd be a few extra pieces with an order as large as ours). I would be open to trying to eat in there but not sure I'd order take out again.

Decided to try this Ethiopian restaurant while I was close to the College Park area. Interior was cozy and homey. Menu had diverse offerings and included numerous vegetarian options. My companion got the fish awaze tibs and loved it. The boneless fish cubes were cooked in a spicy stew, and was accompanied by injera, salad and lentils. I ordered the vegetarian combo - 4 items, which came with salad, cabbage, spicy lentils (Mesir wot) and split peas (kik alicha). The mix of spicy and mild was perfect and the portions were generous. The injera bread soaked up the sauces very well and had the right amount of texture and acidity. Will be back!

I've been wanting to try this place for a long time and finally we came here the other night. Food was really good, but the service was moving slower than what we are used to. We came here not even 7pm but did not leave until close to 9pm. Place was packed with people, with one waitress, everything came out according to when you arrived. We ordered some of the lentil sambusas and they were fantastic. I had the veggie combo and all so good and yummy. Mom has the fish awaze tibbs and mom said the dish was fresh and very well made. I just wished they carried some Ethiopian beers but otherwise no complaints. Great food at excellent prices, will definitely come back.

I haven't been here since college. This visit was nostalgic. The decor looked the same with beautiful images of Eastern Africa. The bathroom was clean and a single person per gender. Our service was fast. She waited patiently for us to decide. The food was delicious and abundantly flavorful as usual. I liked that there were mints to nibble on after your dish.

This restaurant is always packed. So diverse. Food is delicious. I was able to order half fish and half chicken wot with potatoes and cabbage subbed the injera for white rice and it was delicious. All of it. The chicken Sambusas were also delicious. The potato/ carrots and the cabbage were the best tasting veggies to me. The vegetarian combination was also good. I can't wait to visit again

My friend asked me if I liked Ethiopian food. We are newly acquainted so she didn't know that I LOVE Ethiopian food. She asked me if I ever been to Shagga and surprisingly, I hadn't. I have lived in this area for 5 years and have always driven past it. There are plenty of options here but clearly I have been missing out on the best one! She had never had sambusas before so we started off with one order of combo sambusas. Two were lentil, one was chicken. We ended up ordering another combo. We both ordered combo #1. She opted for doro alicha instead of doro wot. I didn't see key sir alicha on the menu but I could have overlooked it. I asked if they had beets and I'm so happy they did. I've been craving this specific dish for about a month now! Everything tasted fresh and delicious. I didn't know where to start. I also ordered coffee. Ethiopian coffee is the only coffee I like. I shamelessly returned the next day for more coffee and sambusas and I'm fighting the urge to go there again today for lunch. The urge is winning! Also, it was quite busy Friday evening but of course it's a Friday evening. The waitresses were still very attentive as they tended to everyone. It's kind of a small place. They had 2 waitresses for the restaurant and they worked together to get everyone's dishes out. The establishment is decorated nicely as well with artwork reflecting the country.

I feel like Ethiopian food in the DMV is always baseline good, but some places are definitely tastier than others. I came here for lunch with some friends and we ordered the meat combo with everything. All of the meat dishes really stood out as excellent. I think my favorite was the kitfo. It's really flavorful and a little spicy, but I also loved the tibs and lamb stew. The veggie dishes were all pretty good but these were weaker than the meat dishes. I enjoyed the yellow lentils the most but my favorite are the red lentils which were missing from the platter. The price point was great, especially for the amount of food. The combo said it was for 2, but there were 3 of us and we didn't finish it. Service was alright, I appreciated that I didn't feel rushed but it also felt like the server kind of ignored us. I'd definitely return!

Good food. Friendly service. Chill environment. My go to when craving authentic Ethiopian cuisine

Spacious Good freshly brewed coffee Good food Clean restrooms Haven't had Ethiopian food in quite awhile.. this place popped up so I gave it a whirl and it didn't disappoint!!! Spicy lamb tibbs absolutely delicious!! Vegetarian platter - servings of all their veggies which were great!! Chicken and lentil shabuccas forgive the spelling but you'll remember the tastes!! The chicken was really good the lentil one could use some sauce.

*Updated review* I was fine with this restaurant as an option for Ethiopian food, but after my last visit, I won't be in a hurry to return here at all! The food was bland, not plentiful, the injera didn't taste fresh and the service wasn't great. Way too many other options in the area!

The first time I tried Ethiopian food was on a date, though he and I didn't last lol, my love for the food did! The food at Shagga is AMAZING!! I base my ratings on the high quality options the restaurant has, including the quality of a simple side salad. I believe the salad on the platter was dressed in magic! Seriously the salad dressing had just the right amount of vinegar and salt. The vegetarian platter had a mixture of green vegetables and starches (lentils, potatoes). I am so happy I was able to get to Shagga to try the food. The server was very nice explaining the vegan/vegetarian options and providing me my meal very quickly. I was the only customer at the moment so the smooth jazz being played help create a relaxing environment. Shagga is a must try if you are interested in flavorful, hearty, ethnic food!

Walking in... me and my friend were the only ones there it was her idea to grab some lunch from here, I am so happy that she did. The service was great our waitress was so sweet I didn't get her name but she recommended some really good things off the menu. The cabbage is DELICIOUS & so is the Doro Alicha. I also happened to try their coffee along with my meal which was good too. The prices are so affordable, I will definitely be back.

Came here for the first time. We ordered the vegetarian combo (#33) and the fish awaze and iced tea. Total came out to around $35 without tip. What's Hot - Quality. Delicious! Everything is well-seasoned. The vegetarian dishes for the combo tasted great. Some of the veggie dishes were served cold and they were still able to hold their own with the flavor. The fish was tender and also spicy. For anyone, who likes spicy food, their fish dish has a very good spice level and is not overly powerful. - Price. Very reasonable, especially given the quality and portions. For example, the veggie combo we ordered was $15 and the fish was $16. - Portions. Good size portions and enough for sharing. Between the two of us, my friend and I were able to finish all the dishes, except the bread. All the food is served with their injera bread, with some extra in a basket. - Service. Instead of serving us individual glasses of water, we were given a cold water bottle per person. When we were there, there was only 1 wait staff and she was pretty good. When the restaurant got busier, she was still able to get to us, especially if and when we got her attention. It sounded like they have a preference for not splitting the tab, but we were able to split the check between our credit cards, which was helpful. - Location. Pretty good location on the main road and easy to find. - Parking. There's a small parking lot in front the restaurant, which is helpful, because you don't have to fight for parking. What's Not - Service. To be fair, their one wait staff was great. She was pleasant and helpful. I'm uncertain what their wait staff situation is like when they're really busy. It is a small restaurant, so it may not be a big deal. However, they appear to be pretty popular, so be prepared that there may be times when service will be slow. Final Answer Pretty good and plan on returning.

Excellent food and friendly service. I have no complaints. I highly recommend this place.

Great portion sizes or the meat with the combos, we were full for hours! Ordered combo #3 with lamb wot, chicken alicha and beef tibbs, then 4 veggies. The lentils, green beans, beef and lamb were my favorite. Medium level of spice. The sambusas were excellent, very crispy & not oily. We tried lentil & chicken and even as a meat eater, I have to say I prefer the lentil! Service was not super attentive even though we were the only ones in the restaurant at the time. Water was only refilled once toward the end of the meal. Food took a while to come out (not a complaint, more an observation) in case you are in a rush. Food was great, I'd eat here again, but it didn't stand out particularly.

This place is 5 min. from our house and we LOVE Ethiopian food so we wanted it to be great. First, the good. The food was delicious and plentiful. It was easy to find and to park. It did not have stairs and was relatively accessible for wheelchair users. You can sit and have a glass of wine at the bar while you wait for your takeout. The staff is friendly. The clientele seems like an interesting mix of folks. There are some major opportunities for improvement. While friendly, the service was agonizingly slow and inept. We did not receive napkins, even after asking. I eventually got up and got them myself. Our food took about an hour to arrive. While waiting, we contemplated giving up and going across the street to get tacos more than once. Even on subsequent visits to get takeout, the service has been painfully slow. I have worked in restaurants and I truly do not understand what is going on back there. We typically order 2 dishes. One is greens (Gomen) which, presumably, they make a huge pot of and dole out as needed. The other is essentially raw spiced ground beef (Kitfo). I make it at home. It takes only minutes. The only explanation I can come up with is that the Walk-in Fridge is actually the gateway to Narnia. We return, somewhat reluctantly, because the food is consistently tasty. Usually we order delivery because we'd rather wait in the comfort of our own home. If they could improve the speed of their service, it would be a nice place to go out to eat.

I loveeee Ethiopian food. My go-to if I want to have a hardy, healthy, tasty meal and Shagga Coffee & Restaurant never disappoints. First off, the interior has a good amount of seating with larger tables for families, since Ethiopian food can be eaten family style! The service is good given the size of the restaurant. It's generally just one waitress for the whole restaurant. She does her best to place all the orders and tend to everyone. Food: So I'm always feeling the vegetable platter so that is my go to. My husband gets the meat. We got the #23 Pick your won combo which includes 3 meats and 4 veggies. Veggies we got Gomen, Kik Alicha, Tekil Gomen and Mesir Wot. The meats we got the Yesiga Tibbs (so good!!), Yebeg Alicha and Doro Wot. I like the lamb and beef tibbs the best. They give you a good size of ingera to satisfy your meal portion. We did order some Sambusas before the main meal. Order of 3 with two chicken and one lentil. Doesn't come with any sauce to dip or top with. Both were tasty. I will always go here. There aren't too many Ethiopian restaurants and of those that are good. This one is a good one! Highly recommend!

Located right off of that busy part of Rhode Island Ave, Shagga has been on my radar for quite a while. My sister and I decided to stop by there one evening for dinner, and when we arrived it was pretty quiet. There was a bar (no honey wine though) with some poinsettias scattered throughout. There was one two-seater very close to the entrance, and I just can't imagine having sat there given how cold it was that night. Our server came over to our table and took our orders... my sister and I shared a massive veggie platter. Overall, each item wasn't as flavorful as what I've had in other restaurants. There was a tasty salad among the items that stood out for its spritzy flavor, as well as a hummus. I ended up full and satisfied, but I was definitely missing the flavors I was used to. I'm happy PG has a good Ethiopian restaurant, but if I was giving recs to others it wouldn't be my first choice.

Food was very good. But I did not get any injera because I asked for rice! I didn't know that it's either/or and I was disappointed.

This was good food and plate size. Allot left overs. You can't go wrong with habesha food will always be a value,tasty and a great customer service

I've been here at least 3 times by now. Once to dine in.... that was actually my introduction to Ethiopian food. And the other 2 times for take out. Each time the food was amazing. I think I've tried just about everything. The staff is always nice and friendly. I've seen how they treat other customers as well while I was waiting on my to go order. The lady at the front even offered me free tea or coffee as I waited. I thought that was so sweet. Anyway they're very nice, the place is small but very charming. Will be back whenever I have a craving for delicious food.

Best Ethiopian food in Hyattsville! The service is great, though it can get busy at times. The food is always worth the wait though! The ambiance is great, friendly, and the music is a vibe. Get the combination for two -- even if it's for one!

This was our second time having Ethiopian food and this place did not disappoint. We got the vegetarian platter (which also happens to be vegan!) and the meat combination #5. All of our friends agree that our favorite dish was the red lentils. Absolutely delicious and nicely spiced. I think the Kitfo was a little more of an acquired taste and we weren't big fans of it. But we thought everything else was great! Our server was really friendly and we enjoyed our experience overall.

Great experience here at this family run Ethiopian restaurant. This place fills up so get in early. I think the best dish is the vegetarian combination for two. It's got two servings of each of the veggie items. Then if you want a meat dish on the side you've got the bases loaded and covered. Came here as a trio and had plenty of food left over. The lamb cubes is reportedly delicious.

Lovely place to grab some Ethiopian food! I'm pretty simple and usually grab the vegetarian platter when I get Ethiopian food but I love seeing how different places have their own spin on the food. I've had similar vegetarian platters at other Ethiopian places but this one included something that resembled hummus? I wasn't sure if it was made of chickpeas but I liked trying something new!

Tried Ethiopian food at Shagga Coffee & Restaurant today. Comfortable atmosphere, considerate service, and great quality of food! I ordered a combo of Doro Wot and Yebeg tibs along with Gomen and Tekil gomen plus Kik alicha as the extra side. Yebeg tib is my favorite, especially accompanied by split peas and injera. Thanks for this experience, which let me want to try Ethiopian food again!

Have been to this place many times. The food is very good however last time I ordered I got it to go and the fish awaze kinda messed with my stomach. Not sure what happened with this time around but I will be back and try again. One thing I do not care for is they mess with hot peppers and it gets almost unbearable if your eating in. The pepper oils go throughout the whole place and almost chokes you out of the building!

I came to Shagga with a group of 5 of us on a Sunday. They have a private parking lot off the road that makes it very easy access. The inside was not fancy at all, but the food felt authentic to me (I'm certainly no expert). The service was slow but I didn't mind because I was with an all girl group and we just kept chatting away. I get like I may have liked them a little more if it was a take out review. The food was good and came out the right temperature. It was not spicy as noted the menu which I was disappointed in. It was a good experience but I wasn't wowed.

Amazing food! my best friend came in from out of town and was craving Ethiopian food, and they did not disappoint!!

Going to Shagga is like visiting family. I settle into the serene surroundings as I wait for the server. Everyone is friendly and soft-spoken. After I place my order, I enjoy the sweet honey wine, Tej. As an appetizer, I ordered sambusas with a tangy homemade dipping sauce. By the time I finish the sambusas and tej my order is served, with the extra injera, I request to soak up as much sauce as possible. The entire experience is delightful; food, service, and prices! Until next time!

I love coming to Shagga, I've been here a few times before and it never lets me down. I enjoy all the dishes I've ever had here and always getting sambusas as an appetizer! I haven't tried the coffee yet but I'll be sure to try it next time I come back. Highly recommend if you want a nice, cute, quiet place to enjoy an Ethiopian meal. Very cute setting, spacious and allows for intimacy at your table if you have more than one person with you. I order the Yisiga Wot (beef tips in spicy pepper sauce) which is a fave of mine next to Doro Wot. Definitely recommend, very flavorful and filling.

The food I ordered had a sour like smell too it. I had to throw it out. Also, one of the manager(s) made a comment about my race which was unwarranted as I was there to order food. I have never been back.There are better options for Ethiopian food in DC and elsewhere.

Got the yesiga tibbs again (beef sautéed in onions, peppers, and herbs). It's just so well seasoned, I can't get enough. This time over rice with tomato salad and collard greens. Y'all, this may be my go to. The rice was "plain" but so delicious-- they have to be adding flavor to it somehow. I loved the tomato salad, it had a zesty vinegar kick to it. When you mixed all three items together in the same bite-- OMG. I think I definitely found my Ethiopian food fave.

Don't walk, RUN to this restaurant! I have been here four times so far, and every experience has felt like the first. The atmosphere is so cozy, and the quality of the ingredients is outstanding! There are so many options to choose from, and you can get a little taste of everything with their combination plates. I have never left unsatisfied. Give this place a try!

Small and very good food! The meat was all cooked very well. The service was fast and friendly. I am glad I googled everything before I got there. I really like the spices that was in all the meat they give you a great portion of everything.

Food is Devine. I got the veggie platter for was full for two days! Would HIGHLY recommend.

The food is tasty, delicious and made to order. Good service and nice atmosphere. Spices and variety is what you get.

It's been a few minutes, darn covid! Decided to make the drive for the best Ethiopian food in the DMV. Veggie platter, definitely, yebeg tibs, definitely and chicken and beef samosas, definitely!!! Missing the beautiful dine-in presentation. Outstanding food and customer service!

Quite literally my favorite restaurant in Maryland. And definitely the best Ethiopian one in the DC area! I live in oregon and i dream of this place. (My work had even done 'favorite restaurant' as a theme where we change part of our names on Slack to add our fave restaurant and mine has been Shagga several times.). There was once a pretty good Ethiopian place in Adams morgan in DC but it closed several years ago... shagga is way better than them and it's located in humble little hyattsville in a much smaller and more quaint location. I've taken so many people here (new to Ethiopian cuisine and also vets) and I kid you not everyone's minds have been blown! Even my picky eater friends have really enjoyed it. Food wise my faves are: - doro wot - doro Alicha -yebeg wot - yebeg alicha () -beef awaze tibs - literally all the veggies I'm not kidding - but especially the gomen (!)(collard greens), tekil gomen (!!) (carrots and cabbage but it's SO GOOD !?), and mesir wot (spicy lentils)

My my my! Won't he do it!! When I am in need of my Asa Tibsb fix i definitely come here!! Always a treat!! I also get the veggie platter as well as an order of sambusas. I want to try the dorro tibbs next. I'm sure it's probably tasty if it's anything like the Asa Tibbs I usually order... Just ordered a take out and I can't wait to get home and get my hands all messy! :))

This was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine and I was a little nervous on what to expect. Shagga is very spacious and comfortable with friendly staff. They have a wide variety of chicken, lamb, beef, fish and vegetables options that can be ordered separately or as combinations. The prices are reasonable and you get very filling servings. I will say some of the options are definitely an acquired taste but the lamb and chicken sambusas were great.