Walia Ethiopian Restaurant Review

Walia Restaurant In Takoma Park Is A Delicious Hidden Gem

May 16, 2009

Walia Restaurant, owned by two sisters, serves the most authentic "homemade" Ethiopian food in the Washington DC area. And quiite certainly, the best kitfo dish in town.

Walia Restaurant is, quite possibly, the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Washington DC metro area. In the sea of Ethiopian dining options in this city, Walia stands out in the quality and authentic taste of its dishes. Nowhere in Washington's "ethnic" neighborhoods - not on U Street or Adams Morgan - will one find as delicious and authentic Ethiopian food than at this hard-to-find and off the beaten path location.

Situated inside a small nondescript shopping center in Takoma Park, it would be very easy to drive by Walia and not notice it. On first glance, the restaurant's interior, just like its exterior, looks pretty basic. Sets of tables and blue chairs fill a spacious room, with the standard carpet and long bar look of many casual eateries. A few Ethiopian art pieces and ornaments adorn the walls, and a TV plays in the background. Sometimes it's the news, other times it's the local US-based Ethiopian TV channel. The interior is, without doubt, clean and immaculate.

Still, the constant crowd of customers at Walia- and for the most part, Ethiopians - on any given weekday, whether for lunch or dinner, proves there is more to Walia than meets the eye and that the the true value of a restaurant is in its food, not in any fancy interior design.

The Best "Kitfo" In Town

Owned by two sisters - Walia is the next best thing to home-cooked Ethiopian food. One could even venture to say, it's the closest thing to Ethiopian food just as it's prepared in Addis. But unless an Ethiopian brings you here or you live across the street, you wouldn't know. The owners are from the Gurage ethnic group in Ethiopia - located in the Southwest of the country - and the Gurages are very well known for their popular dish, loved by all Ethiopians and called "Kitfo" - a dish consisting of raw minced beef marinated in Ethiopian spices and butter.

Kitfo is quite possibly the hardest dish to fiSuite101.com: Online Magazine and Writers' Network | Suite101.comnd in terms of the quality of the meat and the exact combination and calibration of spices and butter used to make it. Quite simply, not everyone makes a mean kitfo. But here at Walia, one can rest assured to get the real thing, Gurage-style: served along with "gomen kitfo" which is a mix of spiced spinach and curd cheese.

Another popular choice is "Goden Tibs"- small ribs marinated and sauteed in onions, spices, and pepper.

Friendly Staff And Affordable Dining

The service at Walia is quick and friendly the presentation beautiful and the food quite simply heavenly. Dinner for two at Walia, accompanied by drinks, can cost a mere $30 .

Folks will find that reservations are not necessary and walk-ins are the norm. As busy as it is, the crowd shifts in way that there is always a place to sit. It's like stopping by your aunt's house without notice, knowing there will always be a declicious meal waiting for you.

Walia Ethiopian Restaurant is located at 6846 New Hampshire Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 and at (301) 270-4545. Their hours are from Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. through 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

The copyright of the article Walia Ethiopian Restaurant Review in African Culinary Travel is owned by Lebawit Girma. Permission to republish Walia Ethiopian Restaurant Review in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.