Zenebech Injera

On the recommendation of Tyler Cowen, I went with a friend last night to check out Zenebech Injera, an Ethiopian establishment lying a bit east of the gentrification frontier near the confluence of 6th, T, and Florida. I'd passed by the place in the past and never gone in since it looks profoundly unpromising, and even though it's close to my house there are almost a dozen more proximate Ethiopian restaurants.

I wouldn't quite give it the unqualified endorsement ("This restaurant with two tables is now the best Ethiopian place in Washington") that Tyler does, but the Doro Wat is unquestionably the best I've had in town. I like the titanic tibs at Madjet more than the lamb tibs I had at Zenebech. The place is definitely worth checking out if you like Ethiopian food and don't mind a total lack of ambiance.

Comments

For good Ethiopian in Boston, check out Fasika on Broadway in Somerville. It is half Ethiopian restaurant, half townie/Somerville bar, and the two have this weird symbiotic relationship that is charming and fun. Plus, great yebeg wot.

Posted by Ben Cronin | June 25, 2007 3:07 PM

I like Tyler's ethnic food reviews but he is often too quick to jump on the embellishment prose express (best _______ ever!!!! seems to be a sentiment in too many restaurant review). Plus, he summarily deleted all of my comments off of his blog that disagreed with his restauranting experience.

Posted by alec | June 25, 2007 3:55 PM

That's funny, I recall recommending it for the ambience...the kitfo is excellent there, the lentils too, also try the new Abay Market in Falls Church, now the best raw beef place, in fact that is all they have.

Posted by Tyler Cowen | June 25, 2007 4:09 PM

ethiopian restaurant? Is that not an oxymoron?

Posted by Jonah G | June 25, 2007 5:57 PM

The kitfo from Zenebech Injera is the only one in town that does not give make me ill, perhaps due to the freshness of the ground meat. The beef with shiro is very good also.

Posted by Amber | June 25, 2007 7:05 PM

How does it compare to Etete, Matt?

Posted by Marty Lederman | June 25, 2007 9:13 PM

My Ethiopian nanny took our family to Dama Ethiopian Cuisine, 1501 S Columbia Pike, in Arlington last year, which was excellent. We were the only white people there (everyone else appeared to be Ethiopian), so I'm assuming that's a good sign. The "Dama" family (Dama means "checkerboard" in Amharek) also have a restaurant in Addas Abbaba.

Posted by Lisa | June 25, 2007 9:45 PM

Well, Zenebech's just a take out counter and Etete (which I think is now closed) is much more of a proper restaurant, so it's not really comparable. The Zenebech dishes are more flavorful, though I didn't try any veggie options there which I feel like was Etete's specialty.

Posted by Matthew Yglesias | June 26, 2007 7:27 AM

"a total lack of ambiance"

Zen.

Posted by Alan Retivtent | June 26, 2007 8:18 AM

Zenebech, having almost no space to eat in, also does a solid job of preparing meals for take-out, which I think is also a unique feature among the neighborhood Ethiopian places. Not to mention that the $7.50 veg combo is easily a dinner for 2, making it the cheapest good+healthy option around.

Posted by sherwood | June 26, 2007 10:29 AM

Etete is closed? I ate there saturday night. Are you saying it closed in the last two days? I sure hope not!

Posted by b | June 26, 2007 7:25 PM