Image: Veggies!
Last Updated: April 2024
Overview:
We tend to avoid “best” or “Top 10” labels, but Tsehay would be on a short list for best Ethiopian in the District. A relative newcomer, now in new digs on 18th Street, Tsehay established itself with an emphasis on careful cooking and great ingredients. The core of the menu is vegan/vegetarian dishes, carefully tended during the stewing process to pop with flavor. We are partial to the beets.
It built up a great word of mouth reputation, assisted along by some critical acclaim (see below). It recently made the move from Georgia Avenue to 18th Street in Adams Morgan, and it is doing brisk business. They serve drinks, including some in-house cocktail creations along with a few beers and wines, but it is not the scene that bring the crowds, it is the food.
It may take a little while for the food to arrive. When it does small bowls will be tipped out onto the spread injera along with a basket of tightly-rolled injera for eating. By the looks of things, most go for the vegan sampler of about five dishes (butter sauce can be added to move it from vegan to vegetarian). There are a few meat dishes – lamb, beef, kifto, but not chicken (they save doro wat for twice-a-year special occasions). Fish at many Ethiopian places is hammered, but here it is crisped to golden brown, and the tilapia flesh remains moist under the scored skin. Injera from 100% teff (gluten free) is available. Ethiopian, like Indian, is great to accommodate all kinds of dietary restrictions.
Dining is available inside and out with a small bar. The outdoor seating is not covered.
Other Guidance: Stairs to access the bathrooms and some of the dining areas. It is a casual, come as you are spot. Vegans and GF can do well.
Summary:
Cuisine: Ethiopian
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
Address: 2429 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Website: https://www.tsehaydc.com/
Reservation: Resy
Other Critics/Voices:
Washington Post: Carman’s original review is close to an ode. And Elazar Sontag in an early piece for him does a deep dive on the doro wat tradition.
Washingtonian: #73 in 2020. Cheap Eats in 2019. They are big fans.
DonRockwell.com – no thread yet
Michelin – Listed. Appears to be original review from the old location.
