Image: Feeling a little tibsi.
Last Updated: July 2026
Overview:
At the foot of the Adams Morgan hill, loyalists wait in line at Keren for the Eritrean cuisine and breakfast all day. The setting is narrow with a long bar on one side and tables on the other. It has a brighter shine now than before thanks to a fresh coat of paint after a fire shut them down for an extended period. But they are open and still doing quality food at a great price point in a low-key, friendly atmosphere.
Although overlapping with the cuisine of Ethiopia, tiny Eritrea has a few twists. One twist (a consequence of Italy’s late-in-the-game attempt at colonization) is pasta served with big white country style rolls. The focus, however, is on the more recognizable staples, like vegetables served over injera and tibsi of spicy meats sautéed with onions. Keren is also one of a few places serving the breakfast dishes from the region like ful, made with mashed fava beans. It is served all day, seven days a week.
The staff have to hustle to keep the tables flipping. It can get slammed on busy nights, but most times it is a short wait. We are so happy to see it back and doing well, and it remains worth a bit of a walk up from Dupont or down from Adams Morgan. It is also a great low-key date option.
Summary:
Cuisine: Ethiopian/Eritrean
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
Address: 1780 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
Website: https://www.kerendc.com/
Reservations: Walk-in
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Tim Carman’s 10 best Ethiopian restaurants in the Washington area 2016.
Washingtonian: Old Cheap Eats lists. 2020 Reader Poll for best of Ethiopian.
Michelin: Made the list before the fire.