- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Almaz Ethiopian
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
1212 U StWashington, DC 20050
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
(202) 462-1212
- Nearest Transit:
-
U Street Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
Shaw Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 2 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 3 am
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
29 reviews for Almaz Ethiopian
Review Highlights
"The lentils and doro wat were memorable."
(in 4 reviews)
"...to split the meat & vegetable combo and the vegetarian..."
(in 3 reviews)
"...an appetizer of the buticha (my favorite -- seriously, I..."
(in 3 reviews)
Loading...
29 reviews in English
-
Review from Mike S.
6/27/2011
I'm not gonna lie, I was surprised I liked this place. It's definitely under the radar and considering it was completely empty on a Saturday night, I was not expecting good quality.
I was sorely mistaken.
My friend's buticha was very tasty (not as good as Ethiopic though), depsite the fact that it was served with corn tortillas.
Our party of four decided to split the meat & vegetable combo and the vegetarian combo #4 and considering the prices, it was more than enough food. The end of the meal became one of those situations where I was not hungry anymore but the food was in front of me so I needed to finish it.
I would definitely check this place out, especially since I guarantee you will not have to deal with a wait. *cough* Dukem *cough* -
Review from Alexandra K.
Astoria, NY
6/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I ended up here after a failed attempt at eating at Madjet, which had plumbing issues.
I ordered an appetizer of the buticha (my favorite -- seriously, I was whining about wanting to find a place that had this, and luckily, it was the first thing on the menu), a chickpea, lemon juice and jalapeno mixture.
As a table, we ordered the vegetarian combo #4, and the meat & vegetable combo. It was more than enough food, and the bill was pretty reasonable.
I love DC Ethiopian food, and while I think I still prefer Ethiopic, I really didn't mind this place. -
Review from Mary B.
Chicago, IL
5/11/2011
Maybe I am partial to Ras Dashen (or Ethiopian Diamond to a lesser extent) but I didn't have high hopes for this place going into it. Sure I had had many people tell me that the Ethiopian food in Washington DC (I can't bring myself to just call it 'DC') was AMAZING...but I am from Chicago...we have food here and it is AMAZING.
But I went. I was in town for a conference advocating for sexual and reproductive health and needed a break. We got exactly two of those the entire time I was in town...two breaks over the course of four days. I went with my lovely roommate Nicole who had been putting up with my snoring for the weekend. She was a trooper that one. I was really feeling sea food (as i was not as land-locked being that I was in Washington DC), but Nicole wanted to be adventerous...they don't have Ethiopian food in Belfast, Maine...perhaps the entire state of Maine.
The food was great, maybe not as great as Ras Dashen but it was right up there. We got enough to feed a village and I think devoured every morsel of it (as I am prone to do). It was still happy hour and it was a Monday night. We took advantage of the $4 glasses of wine. The best part of the meal...RUFUS THE KAROKE DJ!!!!!!!!! That right...Karoke!
I sang Dolly Parton, I sang Aladdin, I sang Bette Midler and it was great. The food was just what I need to fill my belly but the music is what I needed to lift the weight that had been atop my shoulders for weeks. Rufus had an amazing voice and was so sweet to the two of us (we were the only customers in the restaurant). We closed the place down!
If I ever make my way back to Washington DC (I get why people just type 'DC' now) I will be making my way back here... -
Review from Aaron E.
Washington D.C., DC
6/18/2011
They say everyone should start with a positive before getting into the criticisms so I will go ahead and try to talk about the positives first.
The atmosphere is fun and feels authentic. My wife and I felt that we had set foot into a different country when we entered the restaurant. The walls were covered in the colors of the Ethiopian flag. Ethiopian music provided pleasant background noise, and the smell of spices filled the air. Secondly, the price is very reasonable compared to some of the other restaurants on U Street.
Now for the criticisms. Simply, the food was mediocre at best and the service was terribly slow. The Injera was bland, the Doro Wot was more skin than meat, the Tibs Wot was grizzled and chewy, and the Gomen was poorly seasoned. Worst it took 40 minutes for us to get our food and when we got it, it was stone cold! Waiting is one thing, but waiting for cold food is unacceptable.
If you want inexpensive Ethiopian food head to Columbia heights, unless you really need to eat on U Street, than perhaps Almaz is worth a shot. -
Review from Er B.
Phoenixville, PA
I went on Friday evening with my husband for our weekend away. My husband has enjoyed Ethiopian food before, but this was my first experience. I called earlier in the week to make reservations and spoke with a kind man.
It was a nice distance from our hotel, so we enjoyed a brisk walk before arriving at Almaz. We were about 30 min early for our reservation, but that was not a problem. We were also told that it was happy hour, so our drinks would be BOGO. We were one of 5 or 6 tables in the place; it was not packed and the service was attentive.
We started off with an order of buticha, which has the consistency of hummus, but much more flavorful. It was served with a side of injera (Ethiopian bread).
My husband ordered the Kikle Fitfit--"a specialty of the house"--which was slow cooked, tender lamb served over injera. I had a small bite, and it was full of flavor. Be careful, there are bones in this dish. The husband really really loved it.
I ordered the Vegetarian Combo #3 served over injera: Shiro (much like the buticha, but with more heat from the jalepenos), Kik Alicha (rich in flavor and dense), Gomen (greens--my favorite!), Atakilt Wot (very sweet and smokey potato/carrot dish), Misir Wot (much like the Kik Alicha, but with lentils) and Timatim Salad (fresh and crunchy).
Our dinner was served with extra servings of injera. Prices were completely reasonable: 3 beers, an appetizer and two entrees came to $35.
This was an excellent place for me to try Ethiopian food for the first time. I'm looking forward to trying this again, but closer to home. -
Review from Matt G.
Washington, DC
11/7/2010
In what might be a first, Yelp has correctly identified an establishment as not wheelchair accessible. There's a hefty single step out front, but with a little assistance it's manageable. Normally I pass on businesses that aren't interested in catering to my needs by putting a $50 threshold ramp out front, but for whatever reason I didn't check on this restaurant before going.
To get the other negative out of the way, what I did do was scope out their website and get excited about their vegetable combo #5, as it had dishes I had never even heard of. Unfortunately the wait staff hadn't heard of them either. This dish is officially not available here. They do have a "special vegetable sampler" seemingly not listed on the menu that you can order, and we did. While I think the food could have been a little spicier, it was very flavorful. We ate as much as we could and I'm excited to have the leftovers in my fridge. Would have given them 3.5 stars if I could, but they are worth a repeat trip, sadly with well muscled companions to get me over their entryway. -
Review from A K.
Washington, DC
1/10/2011
I have lots of love for Almaz. Went on a Saturday night with a group of friends. Our waiter, Fitre, was great fun and very helpful, and the rest of the staff was very welcoming. They have weekly birthday celebrations for the community, as well as DJs at night. There's a great energy in the place.
The location is incredibly convenient, right at the U street metro station.
Oh, and the food was great, too.
Almaz is a definite favorite. Go and enjoy! -
Review from Miriam S.
Washington D.C., DC
4/21/2011
Almaz, is a no frills approach to Ethiopian cuisine. With simple decor, and low prices it is the food that shines through. Their vegetarian combination plate was to die for, and at only $12.99 for two people, it was a real bargain. Ethiopian food is designed to be share so remember share and share alike....
-
Review from Cat B.
9/28/2009
3.5 stars - Almaz makes and serves *great* Ethiopian food and is cheaper than Dukem. The lentils and doro wat were memorable. The atmosphere leaves a lot to be desired, unfortunately. There is a small stage in the back that was occupied by some Ethiopian men playing a game when I went, but I suppose they have entertainment sometimes. It is dark and quiet, and generally not crowded when I walk by.
Awkward bathroom alert for the ladies! No cover between toilets, just lock the door, trust me.Listed in: "Little Ethiopia"
-
Review from kathleen c.
New York, NY
4/12/2009
For my first Ethiopian experience I have to say that it was pretty awesome. The spongy bread was tasty, all of the vegetarian dishes were amazing, the lamb was okay (not too much lamb, lots of spongy bread instead) and in general you think there's not that much but 1) cmon, the size of the plate should tell you SOMEthing, and 2) that bread expands in your stomach, i swear.
Also, it should be noted that Wednesday night Karaoke night and if you go up there and sing, you'll get your picture taken.
Friendly staff, pretty clean, weird bathrooms (two toilets with no wall in between them?!) and a GREAT ambience--the DJ mostly plays old school R&B, which I totally dug. -
Review from Matthew S.
Riverdale, MD
9/5/2010
This was my first foray into Ethiopian food, so I really have nothing to compare it to. All I know is that my wife and I liked it...a lot. I've been told that there are better Ethiopian places (Dukem's?) but have not yet had a chance to eat at any of them. So, perhaps my opinion of this place will change in the future but, for now:
This restaurant is conveniently located right next to the U Street Metro station. Just come up the escalator, go to the right and voila. The restaurant was not very busy at the time we went in so, as a result, we received top-notch customer service here. The waitress was Johhny-on-the-spot with refilling our drink orders and our food was prepared quickly.
The appetizer was a hummus with bread dish. It was good, but I think that, given the size of our meal portions, we could have easily done without it. The bread served with the appetizer was not the traditional injera bread. But, when our meal came out, it was served with an abundance of injera.
I had some sort of lamb dish that was good, but there were a lot of bones in it. Again, not sure if that is typical of Ethiopian food or not, so I can't really complain about it yet.
My wife got a vegetarian plate and, as often happens to me, her meal was better than mine. I finished mine and tried to help her finish hers, but there was just so much of it that we were unable to finish it.
I will certainly try this place again... particularly once I have had a chance to eat at some other restaurants to compare it to. -
Review from Sam E.
Cleveland, OH
12/13/2008
I'm so surprised at the low marks this place has gotten. I'm no expert at Ethiopian, but the portions I've had here have always been larger than Dukem, and have always been delicious as all get out. They also don't charge extra if you want more ingira.
The waitstaff is also really friendly.
I would eat here weekly if I lived closer. -
Review from Christopher H.
Alexandria, VA
8/23/2008
We won a coupon for Roha last year, so for my birthday in July we decided to take advantage of it and go for lunch. When we arrived, we were confused... because instead of Roha was Almaz. We decided to try it anyway (no, they wouldn't honor the coupon).
Our usual M.O. at Ethiopian places is to get the doro wat and their vegetarian plate, which is what we did here, but there was also a fish appetizer that looked interesting, so we decided to splurge and give it a try. We ended up with a LOT of food, especially for lunch.
The service was very pleasant and friendly. The food wasn't very quick to come out (but not overly slow, I guess), and we were surprised to be presented with our entrees before we got the fish appetizer. One look at the entrees told us that if they'd forgotten the fish, we'd still have plenty of food, so it was not a problem. About 5 minutes later, they did bring out the fish, though, and we were surprised to find that it was a whole fried fish -- small, about 1 lb.
The doro wat was decent. It could have been stewed longer so that the flesh would come off the bone more easily... and the sauce could have been more complex and flavorful than it was, though. The veggies were quite good and fresh, but not inspired. The fish, though, was really nice. Crispy on the outside, and perfectly cooked. It was a bit hot to have to pick it apart with our hands, but we survived. :)
Overall, it was an okay time. I might go back, but there are more places I'd want to try first. Doro wat seems to be our indicator of "yes, it's fabulous" or "no, it's not worth it," and this one fell a bit short... but for me, the fish made up for it. :) -
Review from Sawyer T.
Washington, DC
3/27/2010
My boyfriend and I tried this place out, and a month later, I still have no desire to eat Ethiopian in the near future. If I could, I would give it 1.5 stars because our waitress was friendly, the menu is rather inexpensive and there were some edible things in our dish.
Although I cannot recall the name, we ordered a lamb dish, and it was just really unpleasant. There was actually no edible lamb on the plate; it was mostly bone. What meat was served to us would not even have sufficed in a stew. However unpleasant this may sound, it was almost as if the cook served us discarded lamb from another customer's plate. It was just bone and grit.
I left the restaurant still hungry and I regret not sending the dish back. -
Review from Misha T.
3/22/2010
Not the best ethiopian food in DC in my opinion. I personally prefer Meskerem or Dukem. But don't get me wrong it wasn't bad. I was just sorta miffed that we didn't get water, napkins, or wet towlettes till we asked for them.
My tibs was nice and spicy but normally i feel like i get more stuff on the sides and it only came with the tomato onion stuff and the yellow cabbage. The fried croaker wasn't bad but we def burned ourselves several times on it.
I'd go back though because sometimes they have shows and if you can watch a show and still eat some decent ethiopian food it's a winning combination. Go Sulu DC! -
Review from Brian F.
Updated - 7/2/2009
Returned to listen to a friend play music in the upstairs hall, which turns out to be a much better space for listening to music than the main restaurant. Also encountered the Worst Band in the Universe, who may or may not be the "house band". Either way, the food was good & plentiful. I had the kitfo with some lentils and gomen on the side, and I had much more food than I could have finished by myself. The kitfo was wondrous, spicy and sharp and complemented by some excellent Ethiopian cheese. The gomen was good, not the best I've eaten, but also not the worst. The lentils were excellent, among the best I've had in the area. My friend and I ordered 2 platters of food, and wound up feeding 4 other people in addition to ourselves.
Back to the WORST BAND IN THE WORLD. As a duo, they range from insipid to polishing a musical knob like a mythical White House Intern. As part of a larger outfit, they're not bad.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/10/2009
I'm also not sure why people are complaining about the portion sizes. My friend and I ordered 1… Read more »
-
-
Review from David B.
Washington, DC
1/10/2011
Almaz offers some relatively decent food for a really good price. It's nowhere near the best Ethiopian in town but not the worst I've had. They don't charge per person like many places but just per plate, so it can literally be 50% cheaper than some other places with close to the same amount of food. The upstairs is also great for a large group and they are more than willing to let you use it for an occasion if you give advance notice
-
Review from Sophie ..
Washington D.C., DC
10/11/2009
Food: as good as any I've had in the DC area
Service: pretty slow. I went with three others on a Saturday evening and they weren't even close to crowded. There were maybe 10 tables occupied, and it seems like there were two waitresses. It took almost 40 minutes for food to get on the table, and I had to ask three times for more water (spicy food!) before I got a refill.
One more thing: the ladies' restroom is really odd in that it has two toilets in one room, two soap dispensers and one sink, and a one-person capacity.
All in all, it's a great restaurant. There was no wait on a Saturday night, prices are very reasonable, and the food is really good. -
Review from Ben K.
Bethesda, MD
12/31/2010
excellent food, excellent service. Flavorful, great presentation. I am vegetarian so i can't comment on the meat dishes. They even had a few vegan desserts to choose from.
I ate at Meskereem a few weeks ago, and it doesn't even compare. The portions were much bigger at Almaz, and food way better. I'll be going back for sure. -
Review from Peter B.
Washington, DC
12/8/2009
Almaz wasn't bad - they have a fairly large menu with some interesting choices, but the kitchen needs a heavier hand with the spices. Their "spicy" sauce is so weak I could smear it on my gums a la Jean Reno in Wasabi and carry on a normal conversation.
On the plus side, everything was cooked very well. The Berha Tibs had a fantastic texture - very crisp and juicy - needed more rosemary and black pepper. The Shiro and Gomen both represented well. The Kik Alicha was noticeably weaker than their competition. -
Review from Aisha M.
Washington, DC
2/24/2008
I went here with friends. Their rent must be staggering because they don't give much food for the price. We ordered a combo that was supposed to have 3 meats and 5 veggies. Well they gave us about 1/4 cup of each veggie which is sparse compared to other places. The Dukem platter is the same price but it has way more food. The service was a little slow as well but everyone was super nice. The food felt fresh and clean an not over spiced like other places. It was subtle where it needed to be and spicy when the time came. I was confused as their doro wat wasn't in a red sauce so that was a bit of a turn off.
-
Review from Meghan B.
San Anselmo, CA
Updated - 1/31/2010
I was asked what I thought of Almaz compared to other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, I think it is the best. I recently moved to San Francisco and it is the one thing I really miss from DC (besides my friends). The flavors and spices are amazing and none of the other places came close. I like Etete sometimes because I really like the ambiance. I feel that their dishes are usually small and not very flavorful. Dukem is not very good at all. Everything comes out cold. I do like that they have outdoor seating.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/12/2009
I am shocked by the low scores, I love Almaz. I eat here frequently and really love the food. I am… Read more »
-
-
Review from Zac D.
Monterey, CA
7/7/2010
First time eating Ethiopian, and I feel like I should have gone to a better place. This street is full of them but were all packed except for this place, which should have been a sign not to enter. The food was alright but I definitely wont be heading back, it was pretty filling though for an alright price about $10 for a large plate of food.
-
Review from Cindy C.
11/9/2009
It seems like this place solely exists on the spillover of Dukem. The quality of the food and service was mediocre at best. The Doro Wat wasn't very good and the Injera could have had more flavor. The Kikle Fitfit ended up being 6 pieces of bone and 2 pieces of meat with lots of Injera on top of Injera. Will not be going back to Almaz the next time I'm in DC.
-
Review from Hiram G.
Montgomery, MD
2/18/2010
I'm very suprised at how many decent reviews this place has! I went there with a friend that I wanted to introduce to Ethiopian food and I was so embarassed that I brought her here. The quality of the food is absolutely disgusting and everything tasted far far from fresh! It's important that the food is fresh because hello! It's raw meat!! We forced ourselfs to 5 or 6 bites and we couldn't tolerate it after that. We were both incredibly sick for the entire evening and canceled important plans that night we were really looking forward to. This place completely turned my friend off to Ethiopian food for life!
-
Review from Christopher M.
Washington, DC
5/15/2009
I went here for lunch today after the gym and had a pretty great experience. Walked in and the place was empty, so I decided to settle at the bar; I was greeted right away. The bartender was friendly and pleasant, but I didn't have much interaction with her. I ordered my Doro Alicha and a glass of water and that was pretty much it. As I waited for my food I watched soccer and the news on the televisions, it came down about 15 minutes later. It was 2 Chicken Legs and a boiled egg sautéed in garlic, onions, tumeric, butter and spices. I think the menu reads that this dish is spicy....not. Or maybe the bartender thought I was a wuss, but anyway it was really good. I kind of sat there and thought "Wow, two chicken legs?". Then it made perfect sense when I thought of it in terms of protein, and the fact that I probably had 6-7 ounces of it right there. Then along with the main dish came a salad of tomato, onions, and jalapeños; and sautéed cabbage and carrots. All of which I gave the old college try at scarfing down, and pretty much got it all save for 50% of the bread the food was served on. I'd definitely go back here again. I'd really want to go during dinner, they have a stage and a pretty good sound system; so no doubt they have performances and music. I also have to try some Tej!
-
Review from Morgan C.
Washington, DC
9/6/2010
There are a lot of Ethiopian restaurants in DC, so I was overwhelmed when it came to selecting one. My friends and I decided on Almaz, and I have to say we were not disappointed! When we got there, they did not have a table for the 5 of us, so they told us to sit at the bar where they gave us happy hour priced beers (2 for $4 on any beer) despite the fact that HH had ended more than an hour ago. They waiters and owner kept apologizing for making us wait, and even took our order at the bar so it would be ready when we were seated. After 15 minutes, when no table had freed up, they set up a new table for us and apologetically sat us. As for the food, we were kind of in a mood to try everything so they suggested a massive plate with a little of everything. The food was amazing and for $45 the five of us were stuffed with even some leftovers. They kept bringing us water and more of that bread stuff as we needed and were overall very friendly. Not only is the 5 star rating for the fantastic service and overall hospitality we received, but also the for the food which was delicious and hastily prepared. The atmosphere was great and many of the other people there were happy to chat and explain to us what everything was. I highly recommend!
-
Review from Mark P.
New York, NY
12/27/2007
This restaurant is at the former location of Roha. But this restaurant is not very good. The portions are small for the price, and the people who run the place are not nice. I suggest you try another Ethiopian in the area.
-
Review from Mikey B.
Chicago, IL
3/12/2008
Yeah it was mediocre. Mine was not spicy at all, like it said it would be, and there wasn't a ton of food.. Madhjet is still more food.
