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Named for Chef and owner Selam’s mother, Tsehay means sun in Amharic — and it’s the warmth you feel the moment you walk in. We serve traditional Ethiopian cuisine the way it was meant to be experienced: eaten with your hands, shared from one plate, and cooked from recipes that have never been compromised. Michelin-recognized 2021–2023. Washingtonian Top 100. But what we’re most proud of is this: twice a year, for Ethiopian Christmas and Easter, we prepare Doro Wat — Ethiopia’s national dish — and offer it free to every guest who comes. No forks. No shortcuts. Come as you are.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2429 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 808-8952
Website: http://www.tsehaydc.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: tsehaydc.comresy.com
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Reviews
Krystal Erickson
Extremely small portions for the price. We ordered 3 vegan samplers for $90 total, and I’m pretty sure they only gave us a portion for two (see photos). The food was delicious but not at all worth the high price. We’ve been to several other Ethiopian restaurants, and they gave us nearly double the food for half the price.
… moreCarlz Elmstherson
Tsehay in Washington, DC is easily one of the city’s standout Ethiopian restaurants. The food is rich, comforting, and packed with deep, traditional flavors that make every bite feel intentional and satisfying. If you’re a lamb lover, their lamb dish is an absolute must—tender, well-seasoned, and cooked to perfection. It’s the kind of dish that keeps you thinking about it long after the meal is over.
That said, service was a bit hit-or-miss. One of the servers came off as slightly rude, which took away from the otherwise warm vibe. Still, the quality of the food more than makes up for it. If you’re in DC and craving incredible Ethiopian food, Tsehay is absolutely worth the visit—come for the lamb, stay for the flavors.
… moreThat said, service was a bit hit-or-miss. One of the servers came off as slightly rude, which took away from the otherwise warm vibe. Still, the quality of the food more than makes up for it. If you’re in DC and craving incredible Ethiopian food, Tsehay is absolutely worth the visit—come for the lamb, stay for the flavors.
Zahid
The place has a nice atmosphere and really welcoming staff. My issue is the price they charge you for the amount of food you get. The regular veggie platter is $30 for a sample of 3 oz of every vegetable dish they have. We ordered that for two, and I’m sure we didn’t get any more than for the sampler for one. Paying $60 ($75 including tax and tips) for a plate of vegetables that you can get for $20-$30 at any other decent Ethiopian spot in the city is a rip off. I’m all for supporting family businesses, but just because you dim the lights at your place doesn’t mean you should charge people whatever you want.
… moreAmber Posada
From start to finish, Tsehay was an amazing experience that I can’t wait to have again. We made a reservation for 7:30 on Friday night and got there about 15 minutes early. We were able to get a table almost immediately and were treated with so much kindness and hospitality! We ordered the vegan platter and a bottle of wine, and did not leave a single crumb left behind. The food was excellent and the service was just as perfect. We were there to celebrate my friend’s birthday and were given a complimentary dessert and a glass of champagne each!
Thank you Tsehay for a 10/0 experience! I’m already looking forward to my next DC trip!
… moreThank you Tsehay for a 10/0 experience! I’m already looking forward to my next DC trip!
Tyler Sun
True gem in DC: friendly staff and delicious food. I ordered the Lamb Tibs, which were tender, but what surprised me were the greens. I loved how the sauce on the greens added just a little more complexity to the dish. Of course, the injera was nice and soft. Combined with the gentle lighting and atmosphere, this restaurant is perfect.
It was my last stop in DC, and I would recommend Tsehay to anyone from out-of-town.
… moreIt was my last stop in DC, and I would recommend Tsehay to anyone from out-of-town.
M Matenda
Update: (in response to owner below) My honest review of our experience is not to attack your business as “black owned”…. it’s my experience as a customer in your establishment. Service was poor and slow, food was superb, even if a very tiny portion. Simple as that. It took us over 1.5 hours to receive/be offered 1 drink, 1 entree and 1 appetizer. That’s not an attack, it’s my truth.
Original post: The staff was nice but the service was extremely extremely slow which is stopping me from going there again. They were either understaffed or extremely disorganized. We didn’t even order multiple drinks in fear they would show up after we ate and we asked for our bill as soon as our food came. Food was great but the waitress dished onto the same plate without asking, considering my partner is vegetarian and I’m not. Atmosphere was okay and the ambiance was nice.
… moreOriginal post: The staff was nice but the service was extremely extremely slow which is stopping me from going there again. They were either understaffed or extremely disorganized. We didn’t even order multiple drinks in fear they would show up after we ate and we asked for our bill as soon as our food came. Food was great but the waitress dished onto the same plate without asking, considering my partner is vegetarian and I’m not. Atmosphere was okay and the ambiance was nice.
Sierra S.
Very good food here. It was my first time ever trying Ethiopian and I’m so glad I did. We tried a platter with injera. The spicy one was so so rich and flavorful and went perfectly with the cheese crumbles. We also tried the habesha beer. I’m not a beer person but this one was actually very nice and refreshing. Our server was AMAZING. We had a younger child with our group and she was extremely accommodating and sweet. Food was kind of pricey but it was worth it. They also seated us in the traditional room upstairs which was a very cool and unique experience. The walls were lined with Ethiopian newspapers and publications and we were seated at a small table with stools. Please come, everyone must have the opportunity to try delicious food like this.
… moreThrisha Mohan
Absolutely devoured the food here, it was so delicious. I got the vegan platter and it was well worth it, a good tasting of all of their vegetarian dishes. I would definitely come back again, especially to share with a bigger group. The flavors are perfect and bring out each individual piece.
Ambience is such a beautiful and calm space and the service is pretty quick.
… moreAmbience is such a beautiful and calm space and the service is pretty quick.
Kenneth Barrett
It was my first time eating here and it was a great first impression. The vibe was great and the food was excellent. A lot of the menu you eat with your hands, which I thought would be a problem but the food is so good that you fall into pretty quick. The service was also top class. I ordered an alcoholic tea and after a few sips it was clear it was too strong for my taste, it tasted great but it was just a bit too strong for me. Once the staff saw my drink untouched they took it off my bill and gave me just the base tea, which was great. All in all the food was great and the staff were a class act
… moreTamir R
Absolute must try! Incredible food and experience. Just know you’ll be eating with your hands but that is part of the authentic experience. The mushabek desert with the spice tea is an awesome finish. Owner is very friendly and atmosphere is great.
… more