Keren Restaurant in Washington DC

Update-received very positive response from the owner trying to be more environmentally friendly! The environment is very good, people are quiet, a lot of space, very great for working. Thank you very much!

I love this restaurant and haven't been back in years since moving to Chicago. It was such a happy return. I enjoyed a couple of the Hog Wash cocktails, delicious pineapple basil sweetened lime & gin and a delicious Old Fashioned off of the happy hour menu. I was utterly blissed out over the Truffle Mac, so indulgent, so cheesy, so GOOD. I also enjoyed one of my all-time favorites, the face bacon. Everyone should try this and enjoy it. You must accept that you are eating fat, then favor every last morsel. The service was also excellent at the bar. Love you, 'The Pig'.

The ingredient quality here was great, fantastic meat, decent menu selection and nice ambiance. Service was just alright. Food flavor however wasn't exactly Ethiopian. The lentils were on point. Beyond that, the food really lacked seasoning. We also asked for "Ethiopian spicy" which turned out to be not spicy at all. Even the hit sauce was underwhelming. Compared to some of the restaurants on NVA, the flavor here just didn't cut it.

Aaaammmmazzzinng. This place doesn't look like much from the outside but don't let that scare you. We walked in and had a hard time figuring what we wanted from the menu. Never having this type of cuisine it was overwhelming. I got some tea and the keren special in order to have a nice variety to try. It was a great choice and delicious. My favorite food so far on our DC trip. Lots of patrons here spoke the native language and use this place to meet. Gave it a very special feel to eat among native Eritrean and heard presumably Eritrean music playing. It was out of this world, I thought I was somewhere overseas. Prices were very affordable and staff is super friendly. Highly recommend trying them out. Hiiighly!

First time I had to wait here, the line was outside. They turned around the tables pretty quickly though. I've tried multiple Ethiopian restaurants around DC but always come back here. The potatoes and cabbage are not the most flavorful I've had, but they hold their options at a great price point for the amount of food they give you.

Oh man, so good! Had the Keren special and the Shiro special (ended up with plenty of leftovers), both were great, and they've got the best enjera in town. Make sure to call instead of ordering online (for one thing they're so friendly, and also the online ordering system wasn't working quite right when I tried to do it so I called them anyway).

This restaurant was suggested is by a local. I love finding places like this. Hole in the wall dripping with tradition and culture. The food was amazing. Injera “bread” topped with 5 amazing sides and two types of meet. The beef was tastier than the chicken I thought. I am not a veggie guy but to me, the sides were the stars. The plate below is called the Keren Special. So much flavor and a different mouth feel than what I am used to. I was curious to see some more traditional “Americanized” food on the menu. I wonder if that is to satisfy people with little taste or if dishes like this are finding a place in Ethiopian food culture. If you want something new and authentic try Keren!

Great vegetarian Ethiopian. The wait was pretty long for a single table, and the variety of options isn't that wide. Still, worth it if you like Ethiopian food in general.

Great food, and service. The staff makes you feel like family and this is a great feeling to have while you dine-in. Try the Habesha beer, you won't be disappointed!

Their injira is spectacular! Prices are great, but the place is small, so come early or be prepared to wait. The wait is worth it though. Everything is delicious. Don't miss out on their honey wine either.

Great but not superb food. Second time eating Ethiopian/Eretrian food. I enjoy the flavors and the experience of eating something that’s not particularly mainstream. Cozy, quaint, homey vibe. Staff was very friendly. Went late in the afternoon on a Monday so no wait.Dining/bathroom could be cleaner.

Went here after moving into a new apartment and seeing good reviews and I'm SO GLAD we did! The portions are very generous, the staff was attentive and so kind, and the atmosphere was very enjoyable.I had to run back to my new apartment to deal with an issue with the lease right after we had ordered and my friend waited for our food. When our server found out I wouldn't be back for another 20 minutes or so, she took my meal back and brought me a fresh one when I got there! I'll absolutely be returning.

One of the best foods I had in Washington DC. It is a warm place to go out with family and friends for dinner. The portion sizes are large as 5 of us couldn't even finish 2 mains. Great place to eat if you are vegetarian. Best part was that it is very cost effective. I would definitely want to go back again! Note that that there is no table reservation at the restaurant so arrive early as there may be a queue for the table in the evening.

Incredible Ethiopian food. There's a bit of a wait and no reservations or wait list but it's worth it. Individually, some of the items on our plate was among the best Ethiopian food we've ever had.

First time having Ethiopian food and I'm so happy that I chose this place. It was so incredible and tasty and I cannot wait to go back. Every single bite was filled with such flavor that it was just a never ending supply of surprised. My favorite was the cabbage (which I did not expect to be so flavorful), the red lentils and the potatoes but everything was delicious!!

The Kicha Silsi was fantastic—rich and spicy! The coffee was quite good too. I really enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and above all the delicious eats. Easy to find vegan options too!

Excellent food! This restaurant serves up tasty meals with a traditional sponge bread that is spectacular. We visited during the dinner rush, so we had a bit of a wait. Be prepared for that. This place is good, and it seems word has gotten out. Once inside, there is a super friendly atmosphere.The menu has a lot of options - all of which will be cooked to perfection. My daughter ordered spaghetti from the kids menu, and they whipped up an outstanding pasta dish for her. She loved it. I went with the veg platter, and quickly realized that it contained a nice variety and a whole lot of food.Everything was great. We'll definitely be back!

This is delicious and authentic. The quiet atmosphere makes this a great place to dine. Staff is very helpful if you are new to Ethiopian food.

Don't order on their website! Call them and confirm they are open and then order on the phone. I just ordered online and showed up and they said they don't manage the website or something and didn't have my food and couldn't refund me because they didn't manage the website... So they said I had to call my credit card. To be fair though, when I've gone there before COVID I really loved their food and it was great pricing. So that's why I'm still rating them high. JUST CALL, DO NOT order on the website or you may get screwed...Also they close at 8pm, not 10 like Google says.

My favorite meal and moreover, my favorite takeout! It tastes just as good as it does in the restaurant.

I tried the kicha with meat, which tasted like a lot of spicy. I personally would not try it again, but would recommend this to someone looking to try Ethiopian food for the first time.

Wow, what a gem of a place in DC! The ful is incredible with the softest texture and an amazing flavor, and the foods are spiced perfectly without being overpowering or too spicy (heat level can be adjusted). I highly recommend the Keren combination #4, both the chicken and beef are great. Also the breakfast combo is worth trying to taste the variety. Eritrean tea also good, coffee is decent but average. Both the tea and coffee are more reasonable than coffee shop prices.

The best Ethiopian food in DC run by the kindest staff. The veggie platter is an absolute must. I cannot recommend Keren more.

Great atmosphere GREAT food! Very friendly staff and very reasonable prices.. this was my first time here and it will not be my last! Loved it!

We decided to get carry out on a Friday night, and the food tasted just as good as it would when eaten in the restaurant. We ordered the Keren Special with Spicy Beef. Everything was delicious and the portions were great which is rare to find with "to go" food. My friend who is not a huge Ethiopian fan said "this is the best food I've had in DC".

Been here 5 times, didn't realize I haven't given it 5 stars. Food is amazing, consistent and very well priced. I love getting breakfast here on weekends. Even brought my mom and grandmother here, who have never had east African food, and they loved it. I haven't tried their take out or delivery yet since indoor dining closed, but other reviews suggest is just as good.

Exceptional customer service soon as I walked in! The server was pleasant even gave me and my boyfriend an extra glass of wine on the house. The food was absolutely delicious and my daughter enjoyed it as well. Thanks so much I will be back again

Eh, asked for the best dish on the menu and wasn’t overly impressed. Definitely good and large portions, but I think this place is more about the quantity. Veggie dishes looked a bit more appetizing. Seemed like a very hoppin’ lunch spot though - I liked the vibe! And waitstaff was super friendly.

Wow, so good, so much for so few dollars. The spice level was perfect, every thing was so fresh! Highly recommend the tibsi with veggies.

It was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I think I found my new favourite cuisine! The food was amazing! And the portions are huge! Definitely go with a big group and share!

The best Ethiopian restaurant in DC!! Delicious food, quality service, and very vegan-friendly. No better food anywhere in the city, has made lockdown so much better!

Good food, not expensive. Tried their Keren special, almost everyone gets some version of that. Definitely recommend checking this place out.On the flip side, the wait can be long as it’s a small place. Ambience is ok at best, place stinks sometimes

***COVID ERA REVIEW***I have never had Eritrean food, but figured I'd like it because I knew it's similar to Ethiopian in some ways. I ordered several dishes I had never heard of before and LOVED all of them!! In particular, I couldn't stop eating the fatta sisli -- which is bread soaked in a delicious spicy tomato sauce and (maybe) baked. Every dish came in monstrously large proportions that are worth more than their cost, with nothing costing more than $14 and that one thing giving enough food for an entire family.Besides that, the woman who picked up the phone and took my order was so nice and helpful. I definitely recommend ordering by phone since the website is a hot mess and they know it. I really appreciate that everything was sent in compostable to-go containers. There are also a BUNCH of vegan and vegetarian options because the Orthodox observe several periods of fasting during which they look to avoid dairy and meat. Definitely adding Keren to my rotation.

Amazing food at a great price! The people who work here are also super pleasant and lovely. My favorite place in the neighborhood for sure.

It's hard to beat Keren for Ethiopian cuisine. Very friendly staff, authentic tasty food and great price. What more could you want?

This place has great food and service but it is small which is the only downside. It seems to be a hidden gem. I also would like the service to include the different drinks they serve but it is not on the menu and no one asked. I would totally come back here to enjoy another veggie platter!! Come in starving cause the portions are large. Thx!

Very big portion, overall very good food. Too much tomatoes in the chicken. The ambiance​ is average. Wanted to try a new cuisine but not a very big fan of Ethiopian food.