The establishment’ s name, Habesha, refers to the people and cultures of the Ethiopian and Eritrean highlands. Though it lies 7,000 miles away in the heart of Washington, D. C.’ s Little Ethiopia, it channels the culinary spirit of Ethiopia.
It’ s a compact spot with seating for 38. The dining room features colorful, wall-size photos of Ethiopia. A small grocery section for home cooks stocks staples like chickpea powder, fiery spice blends, and platter-size rounds of injera.
A COMMUNITY TAKES ROOT
The Washington metro area is home to the largest concentration of Ethiopians outside Africa. Hubs of Ethiopian-influenced neighborhoods have shifted over the past decades, but the historic center of Ethiopian life remains on Ninth Street NW between T and U streets in the city’ s Shaw neighborhood and along the U Street Corridor, an area bounded by Florida Avenue, S Street, Ninth Street and 15th to 18th streets.
The first wave of Ethiopians arrived in the 1950s and’ 60s, predominantly as university students. After the 1974 revolution and ensuing civil war, immigration restrictions eased, and more immigrants followed.
Initially, many settled in the city’ s Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights neighborhoods, opening the first of what would become a plethora of Ethiopian restaurants and shops. Rising rents in those gentrifying areas pushed some businesses to Shaw, which came to be known as Little Ethiopia, a moniker that was more ceremonial than official.
Over time, the community’ s footprint continued to evolve. The concentration of Ethiopian restaurants here isn’ t as high as it once was. Rents are rising, parking can be a challenge, and the diaspora has shifted to suburban Silver Spring, Md., and, to a lesser extent, Alexandria, Va., across the Potomac.
Yet Little Ethiopia remains an important cultural and culinary touchstone.
A TASTE OF ETHIOPIA
Today, Little Ethiopia still has a concentration of eateries where injera serves as both plate and utensil, and meals are traditionally served family-style.
For the uninitiated, the process of eating Ethiopian food is part of the experience. With your right hand, tear off a piece of the pliable flatbread, scoop up the stew and side dishes by pinching your fingers, and pop it in your mouth. No cutlery necessary.
Many of the neighborhood’ s eateries are informal and reasonably priced. Habesha, for instance, offers a lunch special with a choice of four items for $ 12.50.
Several restaurants, including Family Ethiopian Restaurant( 1414 Ninth St. NW), CherCher( 1334 Ninth St. NW) and the recently opened Piazza Ethiopian Bar and Lounge( 2010 Ninth St. NW), occupy converted Victorian-era rowhouses, giving diners a distinctly Washington setting for a cuisine rooted thousands of miles away.
FROM CASUAL TO CONTEMPORARY
At the more polished end of the spectrum is Eatopia Eatery( 1301 U St. NW). Its goldflecked black walls feature original paintings— available for purchase— by Ethiopian American artists. A small retail selection includes traditional honey wine and handpainted flasks to drink it from, books and games in Amharic, and even Ethiopian-style Barbie dolls.
Nearby, Dukem( 1114-1118 U St. NW) has been in business for almost three decades. The former carryout is now a full-service restaurant with an adjoining market that sells traditional spices, incense, and CDs. Its extensive menu spans more than five pages, and live Ethiopian music plays on some nights. Happy-hour drink and food specials last all night Monday through Thursday.
From a bustling carryout counter to a night of Ethiopian food and live music, Little Ethiopia remains a place where Washington’ s immigrant story can be experienced one plate at a time. Its footprint may have changed, but along Ninth and U streets, the aromas, flavors, and traditions of Ethiopia continue to form an unmistakable part of the neighborhood’ s identity.
U Street Mural
Credit: Courtesy of washington. org
Habesha Restaurant & Carry-Out
Credit: Habesha Restaurant & Carry-Out
FLYWASHINGTON. COM 30 AUTUMN / WINTER 2026